Former Liberal vice-president Teena McQueen dies from illness weeks after defecting to One Nation

The former Liberal heavyweight Teena McQueen is being remembered for her contribution to the party despite her defection to One Nation.

McQueen, who served as the federal Liberal party vice-president from 2017 to 2023, died on Wednesday after battling severe sickness.

She was a long-serving member of the Liberal party before defecting to One Nation in May.

Known for conservative commentary, she regularly appeared on Sky News. spent time with Gina Rinehart at US president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

The former prime minister and current Liberal president Tony Abbott said he had lost a good friend.

“She sometimes put loyalty ahead of judgment but it was typical of Teena’s large. generous spirit that she would confide in others her plans and then take guidance on their merits,” he said on social media.

“In recent weeks, her frustrations with the party became public. it was always the cause of better government for Australia that motivated her.”

Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart, said McQueen would be missed.

“Teena cared deeply about our country, its future, and the values that make Australia,” Rinehart said.

“Teena had a wonderful ability to see through pretence and pick those who were, ‘all hat and no cattle’. She was straightforward and did not pretend to be anyone other than herself. These are just some of the many qualities that she will be long remembered for.”

The New South Wales opposition leader. Kellie Sloane, described McQueen as a “force of nature in Australian politics” in a tribute posted to X.

McQueen revealed in May. she felt the Liberal party’s demise began when Mr Abbott lost his position as prime minister.

She was a divisive political character even within Liberal ranks. In 2022. the then senator Simon Birmingham branded her position as the party’s vice-president as untenable when she declared it was good “lefties” had left the party.