Leading conservatives have paid tribute for former Liberal heavyweight Teena McQueen, who has died after a severe illness.

McQueen was the federal Liberal Party vice-president from 2017 to 2023, but had defected to One Nation only recently.

She died on Wednesday after what her family said was a “short, but severe” medical condition.

“We are extremely devastated to inform you that our mum passed away earlier today after a short but severe medical condition,” they said.

“It is absolutely heartbreaking for all of us, and particularly her gorgeous grandsons, who she was extremely close to.”

McQueen was known for conservative commentary and appeared regularly on Sky News. She also spent time with mining magnate Gina Rinehart at US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

“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.”

Former Liberal Party federal vice president Teena McQueen has died after a short illness.

Hanson told Andrew Bolt on Sky News on Wednesday that she had learned of McQueen’s death in a text shortly before she was due to speak in parliament on Wednesday.

“I could not believe that the message was sent by her grandson. He said: ‘She thought very much of you and I remember the time that we spent together’, and he said: ‘I just wanted you to know that my nan passed away’ and I was absolutely devastated, I was shocked,” she said.

“I thought, could this be real?

“I then rang the number and I spoke to Teena’s daughter, Paige, who confirmed it and it’s just devastating.

“She was a woman full of life, vibrant. She had tenacity, she stood her ground.

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 and 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 but it was always the cause of better government for Australia that motivated her.”

Another One Nation recruit, Barnaby Joyce, said he had spoken to McQueen only recently and did not realise she was sick.

“It is with great surprise and incredible sadness to hear just now of the passing of Teena McQueen,” he wrote on social media.

“Teena dedicated herself to her nation via her passion for politics. Not as a politician but as the unpaid administration of the volunteer party structure.

“Conversations with Teena were often about, policies, our nation and the capabilities of politicians.

“To the very last this was her realm.”

NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane described McQueen as a “force of nature in Australian politics” in a tribute posted to X.

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

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

She reportedly told colleagues in a meeting in 2021 that she would “kill to be sexually harassed”, later saying it was a throwaway line because when women reached her age, they didn’t have to worry about sexual assault.

-with AAP