I agree that the relative openness makes the choice more transparent to the public. Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is clearly bent on acting in the interests of Gina Rinehart - and we as voting members of the public get to decide whether we're ok with that.

I think that a lot of people are not ok with it; including a lot of people in One Nation's target audience. That's why Pauline Hanson downplays the relationship.

Also, the main reason Gina Rinehart's influence over Pauline Hanson is well own is because articles like this one exist. People go out of their way to shine a light on their relationship, because we it well understood that billionaires buying political influence is bad - even when that influence is not kept a secret.

And finally, Gina Rinehart's obscene wealth allows her to buy vast amounts of influence over the general public. And she is doing this, sometimes in obvious ways (such through ads, and their One Nation cartoon), and sometimes less obvious ways (such as armies of social-media sock-puppets, and close financial ties with media outlets). That's how One Nation is able to be so popular despite having no members with any policy skills, and selfish goals bent around what is profitable for Gina Rinehart.