Ms Hanson’s arrival on the political scene in 1996 led to unprecedented protests and rancour in the parliament and broader community, with a police escort required nearly every time she spoke.

Her opponents satisfied themselves they were taking the higher moral ground on issues such as multiculturalism and immigration and the ugly scenes outside each of her speaking engagements were a small price to pay.

Ms Hanson’s appearance in parliament was also a distraction for both major parties who poured inordinate resources into trying to smear and embarrass her.

Twenty years on, she is back, making her one of the great political survivors of her generation. It will be interesting to watch how those around her handle her return.

The time for treating Ms Hanson with snobbish disdain must surely have passed.

When she first arrived on the political scene, Ms Hanson looked and sounded different to the MPs around her.

The Liberal and Labor parties saw her as an impostor, an aberration that needed to be exposed. But every time they tried to belittle her, her strength grew.

One Nation supporters saw themselves as underdogs and the major parties’ treatment of their hero confirmed their suspicions.

Her election is not an abberation and her supporters are not all small-minded bigots.

Ms Hanson is still here because the major parties have not heeded the message that a large part of our population still feels like no-one is listening.

Her election is as much a credit to her ability to connect with disengaged voters as a condemnation of the major parties’ rejection of them.

A mature democracy does not have to agree with Ms Hanson’s politics or rhetoric, but it should acknowledge she remains popular for a reason.

Instead of isolating Ms Hanson, the major parties would do well to try to truly understand her supporters’ concerns.

Two decades of sneering elitism has failed to end her political career. It’s time for a new approach.

It can only be hoped Ms Hanson has learned there are no political gains to be had by doing anything that, intended or not, contributes to division in our society. It is also not in the community or national interest.