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Populist politician Pauline Hanson, who once warned Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians, said Monday she would run in this year's national election to protect "the Australian way of life".

Describing herself as "the redhead you can trust" -- seen as a reference to flame haired Prime Minister Julia Gillard -- she told reporters Australians were fed up with "selfish, dysfunctional and egotistical" political parties.

"I am actually standing for the next federal election," Hanson said in Sydney.

"The people of Australia deserve a fair go, a government that takes genuine care of our own Australians first, no matter what race, color or creed," she said.

The former leader of the One Nation party said there was much work to be done.

She urged a stable government with the "will and determination to control and stamp out the influx of illegal immigrants swamping our shores, the ripping off of our welfare system at the expense of genuine and worthy people, the constant attack on our Australian way of life and poverty in Australia".

Hanson said she will rejoin One Nation, which she founded in 1997, and contest a Senate seat in the September 14 vote.

"If we are to preserve our heritage and our culture and a decent standard of living... to stand back and do nothing is not the answer," she said.

Hanson said issues of concern were Australian companies closing down, prime agricultural land being sold to foreign owners, and cost-of-living pressures.

"We have become one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in and many of our ordinary Australians are struggling," she said.

Hanson entered national politics in 1996 but after losing her seat at the 1998 election has failed in several endeavors to win re-election.

She shrugged this off on Monday, saying: "I don't give up easily."

Hanson acknowledged that her re-entry into politics would be noted.

"I've actually got emails and interest from people around the world who actually say, 'I wish we had someone like Pauline Hanson over here.' Not Australians, but other people from other countries," she told Agence France Presse.

"That's why I am very passionate about my country and that's why I will stand up and fight for our democracy, our way of life and our culture."