PAULINE Hanson’s despot crush on Vladimir Putin is a growing problem for her.

Senator Hanson began her on-the-ground campaign in Perth today to get One Nation elected to the West Australian Parliament.

But the Russian leader became tangled in her appeal to voters after talkback radio callers asked why she was such a fan of the hard-line president.

Mr Turnbull also described the downing of MH17 “a shocking international crime” and did not dismiss links to Mr Putin.

Senator Hanson today was asked to explain why she was such a big fan of Mr Putin, who is rated by many observers as a brutal dictator who had a role in snoring the Russian missiles which brought down MH17, killing all passengers including 38 Australians.

She became an admire of the Putin touch after seeing a speech he made to the Russian Parliament.

“I support his stance for his country,” she replied to a talkback caller who suggested supporting the Russian was insanity.

On reports Mr Putin kills rivals Senator Hanson said: “I don’t know it; do you know it? I’m not going into it.”

His suppression of free speech and human rights: “I’m not discussing about all that.”

And on MH17, she at least conceded it might not have been a good move: “If he was involved in that, I’m not in support of that.”

However, the most serious challenge the One Nation leader faces today is over her suggestion vaccinations should not be compulsory and that they might not protect children.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Australian Medical Association have condemned her comments made on national television on Sunday.

“The health of our children, the health of the nation, depends on vaccination and that has to be as close to 100 per cent as possible,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It is a vital health objective to ensure that everybody is vaccinated.”

Senator Hanson today claimed it was a fake controversy, tweeting: “The media’s obsession with manufactured controversies is why they’re failing. Aussies want media to talk about things that matter!”

The media's obsession with manufactured controversies is why they're failing. Aussies want media to talk about things that matter! #auspol — Pauline Hanson (@PaulineHansonOz) March 6, 2017

However, AMA president Dr Michael Gannon, who is based in Perth, had a counter-tweet saying Senator Hanson had not based her remarks on science.

Senator Hanson told reporters she was thrilled by the support of WA voters who were angered by major parties.