After a decade in the Liberl Party executive, Ms McQueen joined One Nation in May with a view to running in the federal seat of Dobell. Photo: LinkedIn.
Former senior Liberal Party figure and recent defector to One Nation, Teena McQueen died on Wednesday (24 June) after a short but severe illness according to a statement from her family.
“We are extremely devastated to inform you that our mum passed away earlier today after a short but severe medical condition,” it reads.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking for all of us, and particularly her gorgeous grandsons, who she was extremely close to.”
Ms McQueen was a party branch activist on the NSW Central Coast, a delegate to the federal council, and Liberal Party vice-president from 2017 to 2023. After leaving her vice-president role, she joined SKY News where she provided commentary on its evening programs.
Ms McQueen recently moved to join One Nation in the wake of that party’s emphatic win in May’s Farrer by-election after the retirement of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley. She had intended to stand for the federal seat of Dobell which covers the northern end of the Central Coast.
Speaking on SKY News in May, Ms McQueen said the demise of the Liberal Party set in after Tony Abbott lost his prime ministership.
“The left had been creeping in. I tried so very hard … you know, 10 years on federal executive, where I was bashing my head against a wall,” she said.
“I came to the conclusion, looking at my two grandchildren and the state of the country, that I really wanted to help One Nation.”
Mr Abbott said he had “lost a good friend, and the Liberal Party has lost a fine servant”.
One Nation and former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said he had heard of Ms McQueen’s passing with “great surprise and incredible sadness”.
“Teena dedicated herself to her nation via her passion for politics,” he said. “Not as a politician, but as the unpaid administration of the volunteer party structure.”
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson described Ms McQueen as “a woman full of life”.
“We were on the same page when it came to Australian and conservative values, but on completely opposite pages when it came to cooking, sewing and gardening,” she said.
“I thought she was a lovely person; I befriended her and she turned and said to me one day, ‘Pauline, I’m coming aboard for One Nation’.
“I will miss her as will her many friends.”
