ID :
166801
Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/166801
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Foes unite as Hanson bids for NSW seat
SYDNEY, March 9 (AAP)- One Nation founder Pauline Hanson has launched her bid for a NSW upper house seat in familiar style, telling a Sydney radio station that Muslims who won't assimilate shouldn't come to Australia.
The state's political leaders reacted sharply to the news of her candidacy on Wednesday, saying the Queensland-born conservative was not a welcome addition to politics in NSW.
Ms Hanson, who built a following in the 1990s by questioning the value of multiculturalism, is one of 16 independents making a bid for an upper house seat in the March 26 poll.
In their dismay, the NSW Labor government, the Liberal-National opposition and the Greens found something to agree on for the first time in the campaign.
US-born Premier Kristina Keneally said Ms Hanson's views on multiculturalism and immigration were racist.
"The NSW branch of the Labor Party will be providing no support whatsoever to Ms Pauline Hanson's bid to enter the NSW parliament," she told reporters on Wednesday.
"Her brand of divisive and racist policies have no place in NSW, and indeed, it is remarkable that a premier of NSW in 2011 has to stand up to defend the values of multiculturalism and diversity."
Ms Hanson, 56, repeatedly denied her views were racist on Wednesday morning when she spoke to Sydney radio hosts including Fairfax Radio Network's David Oldfield, her former adviser.
"I believe in people coming here, assimilating, becoming Australians and be proud of this country and abide by the laws of the land," she said.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
Ms Hanson said she got annoyed by Muslims who said they didn't believe in democracy.
"We are a democratic country and my concern is if that's your belief in coming here to Australia, why come here?"
She also said she stood by comments she made in 2010 that she would not sell her house to a Muslim.
"I won't back down from that at all," she said.
Ms Hanson said she would campaign on parliamentary accountability and law and order reforms, and against the privatisation of NSW public assets.
She said she would "battle" to get elected.
But Ms Keneally warned that if she did succeed, it could help hand control of the 42-member upper house to conservatives, including Christian and Shooters and Fishers MPs, on top of an expected coalition majority in the lower house.
"I'm alarmed at the thought that Ms Hanson's candidacy could mean conservative control in the upper house," she said.
She also attacked the Liberal Party's endorsement of Chris Spence, a former One Nation member, as its candidate for The Entrance.
Mr O'Farrell said Mr Spence's views had changed.
"He was young. He doesn't hold those views today, and if he did he wouldn't be our endorsed candidate," he told reporters.
Mr O'Farrell said the Liberal Party and the Nationals would not be extending preferences to Ms Hanson.
The NSW Greens, who are vying for a fifth upper house seat, said Ms Hanson would be looking for votes among supporters of the Shooters and Fishers, Liberals and Christian Democrats.
"That's where she's looking for votes, and the concern is that her intervention into NSW politics will drive the political debate to the right," Greens MP David Shoebridge told reporters.
Shooters and Fishers MP Robert Borsak agreed some supporters could switch to Ms Hanson but he didn't rate her chances of getting elected.
"I think she's basically a spent force, and I don't really understand why she's putting her name forward."
Ms Hanson first came to prominence when she won the Queensland federal seat of Oxley as an independent in 1996 and later set up One Nation. She ran unsuccessfully for a NSW upper house seat in 2003.
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Ms Hanson was pursuing her right as an Australian citizen, but he hoped NSW voters would back state opposition leader Barry O'Farrell.
"She's a citizen, she's entitled to run. People can vote for her if they wish, but I hope they'll vote for the coalition," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
The state's political leaders reacted sharply to the news of her candidacy on Wednesday, saying the Queensland-born conservative was not a welcome addition to politics in NSW.
Ms Hanson, who built a following in the 1990s by questioning the value of multiculturalism, is one of 16 independents making a bid for an upper house seat in the March 26 poll.
In their dismay, the NSW Labor government, the Liberal-National opposition and the Greens found something to agree on for the first time in the campaign.
US-born Premier Kristina Keneally said Ms Hanson's views on multiculturalism and immigration were racist.
"The NSW branch of the Labor Party will be providing no support whatsoever to Ms Pauline Hanson's bid to enter the NSW parliament," she told reporters on Wednesday.
"Her brand of divisive and racist policies have no place in NSW, and indeed, it is remarkable that a premier of NSW in 2011 has to stand up to defend the values of multiculturalism and diversity."
Ms Hanson, 56, repeatedly denied her views were racist on Wednesday morning when she spoke to Sydney radio hosts including Fairfax Radio Network's David Oldfield, her former adviser.
"I believe in people coming here, assimilating, becoming Australians and be proud of this country and abide by the laws of the land," she said.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
Ms Hanson said she got annoyed by Muslims who said they didn't believe in democracy.
"We are a democratic country and my concern is if that's your belief in coming here to Australia, why come here?"
She also said she stood by comments she made in 2010 that she would not sell her house to a Muslim.
"I won't back down from that at all," she said.
Ms Hanson said she would campaign on parliamentary accountability and law and order reforms, and against the privatisation of NSW public assets.
She said she would "battle" to get elected.
But Ms Keneally warned that if she did succeed, it could help hand control of the 42-member upper house to conservatives, including Christian and Shooters and Fishers MPs, on top of an expected coalition majority in the lower house.
"I'm alarmed at the thought that Ms Hanson's candidacy could mean conservative control in the upper house," she said.
She also attacked the Liberal Party's endorsement of Chris Spence, a former One Nation member, as its candidate for The Entrance.
Mr O'Farrell said Mr Spence's views had changed.
"He was young. He doesn't hold those views today, and if he did he wouldn't be our endorsed candidate," he told reporters.
Mr O'Farrell said the Liberal Party and the Nationals would not be extending preferences to Ms Hanson.
The NSW Greens, who are vying for a fifth upper house seat, said Ms Hanson would be looking for votes among supporters of the Shooters and Fishers, Liberals and Christian Democrats.
"That's where she's looking for votes, and the concern is that her intervention into NSW politics will drive the political debate to the right," Greens MP David Shoebridge told reporters.
Shooters and Fishers MP Robert Borsak agreed some supporters could switch to Ms Hanson but he didn't rate her chances of getting elected.
"I think she's basically a spent force, and I don't really understand why she's putting her name forward."
Ms Hanson first came to prominence when she won the Queensland federal seat of Oxley as an independent in 1996 and later set up One Nation. She ran unsuccessfully for a NSW upper house seat in 2003.
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Ms Hanson was pursuing her right as an Australian citizen, but he hoped NSW voters would back state opposition leader Barry O'Farrell.
"She's a citizen, she's entitled to run. People can vote for her if they wish, but I hope they'll vote for the coalition," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
