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Hanson-Katter Drought Tour wins interest-free loans for farmers

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MEDIA RELEASE

The Hanson-Katter tour of drought affected west Queensland has convinced the Government to introduce interest-free loans to struggling farmers and rural businesses.

Interest free loans have been raised at various community meetings on the tour as a sensible strategy that would help alleviate the financial hardship of farmers and businesses enduring the eighth straight year of drought.

“This by far is the greatest accomplishment that One Nation and Katter Australia have achieved from our tour,” Senator Hanson said.

“We took up the challenge, and we put the drought on the agenda, and this announcement is the result.

“Interest-free loans were raised from day one of the tour, last Monday, and it was mentioned constantly through the media and the public forums.

“This victory is glaring proof that when you listen to the people, listen to their suggestions, and make sure their views are given a good airing, that you can convince the Government to take action.

“And it wouldn’t have been possible without Australia’s number one radio broadcaster Alan Jones, who has not let up on making sure the issue was front and centre in the minds of all Australians.

“I want to thank all these amazing residents of Charleville, Cunnamulla, St George, Surat, Roma and the people who drove for many miles to come and see us; thanks for your inspirational resilience, you make us proud to be Australian.”

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Pauline Hanson supports Bradfield Scheme, but China can’t own it!

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MEDIA RELEASE

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is warning Queenslanders not to let the LNP contract a foreign company to build any Bradfield-type water scheme, which could see taxpayers being forced to pay for their own water.

Senator Hanson said a typical LNP approach was to allow overseas companies to own major state infrastructure, and then charge the Government and taxpayers to get any benefit for it. 

“Any water that is harvested in Queensland belongs to Queenslanders, and we must make sure we retain ownership and keep getting ongoing benefits from the completed infrastructure,” Senator Hanson said.

“The feasibility study used by LNP leader Deb Frecklington to support its policy is one that suggests foreign investment, foreign builders and then foreign ownership – the last thing we need is for a country like China to build and own an iconic project like this.

“I won’t stand to see Queenslanders paying China for our own water, all because the LNP is too timid to take on a project like this on its own, with Australian engineers and workers.

“LNP and also Labor Governments have a track record of selling off infrastructure to foreigners, and I want Queenslanders to join me to fight together to stop this happening again.”

Senator Hanson was responding to the announcement that an LNP Government would build a Bradfield-type Scheme if it wins the October 2020 Queensland election. The scheme proposes building dams in the high rainfall areas of north Queensland and piping the water to western Queensland to help irrigate farm lands and increase flows to river systems, including the Murray-Darling.

Senator Hanson also questioned why the Liberal and Nationals had had such a sudden change of heart over the Bradfield-type Scheme, which has been a long-term One Nation policy that has been criticised regularly in the past.

“Barnaby Joyce gave some support to it but was quickly told to get back in his box, and then I raised it in the Senate and the Liberals and Nationals voted against it,” Senator Hanson said.

“The LNP has hardly spoken a word of it, even criticising me for raising it, but now that there’s an election looming they’ve decided to steal the One Nation policy and run with it.”

In a Notice of Motion in February, Senator Hanson asked: “That the Senate calls on the Federal Government immediately to allocate $10 billion to commence the construction of the much-needed hybrid Bradfield Scheme.”

In response, Assistant Minister Senator Anne Ruston said: “The Bradfield Scheme requires high up-front capital costs and, coupled with the ongoing running costs, would make the project unviable”.

The Senate voted 4 in favour and 46 against Senator Hanson’s idea.

Water Resources Minister David Littleproud was also quoted in the media in August as saying, “Those that want to solely [support] the Bradfield scheme actually do no benefit to the cause of water infrastructure.”

“We shouldn’t be holding onto something that is some years old and was discredited many years later,” he is reported as saying.

One Nation supported the building of a hybrid Bradfield Scheme as 2017 State Election and 2019 Federal Election policies. The party has for years been criticised for persisting with the plan, yet that persistence has now paid off by generating wider acceptance of the ambitious idea.

“A hybrid Bradfield Scheme needs to be built now – not in five years’ time. If I had been in control, it would already be happening,” Senator Hanson said.

“I’ve said all along that this is a game-changing project, and I’m glad that others are now talking about it. It’s early days, and we still need to wait and see if the LNP actually is able to win the election, which is very far from a given, and then see if it actually proceeds with the scheme.”

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Pauline Hanson secures Senate investigation of dairy industry

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MEDIA RELEASE

A Senate investigation into the performance of Australia’s dairy industry since deregulation in 2000 has been secured by One Nation senator Pauline Hanson.

The Senate voted 33 to 28 in favour of Senator Hanson’s request for what will be a “very broad” inquiry into the industry.

The deregulation of the dairy industry was controversial almost two decades ago and unrest has never completely subsided over the ensuing years.

“The whole dairy industry has been a mess over recent years, and it really doesn’t look like getting much better on its own any time soon, so it is quite vital that we conduct this inquiry to identify and expose the problems, and introduce solutions,” Senator Hanson said.

“The inquiry will be very broad, focusing on industry management, profitability, funding and government support, regulation of farm gate prices, and other issues.”

The One Nation leader has been laser-focussed in her determination to have changes introduced to make sure the industry does not die and so Australia doesn’t become dependent on imported milk and dairy products.

“As I have said many times, we cannot allow our dairy industry to crumble to such desperate lows that farmers simply walk off the land or, worse still, resort to other drastic actions like suicide, which has occurred in an unacceptable number of cases,” Senator Hanson said.

“The fact that there has been little meaningful support from Government only makes the battle even more hopeless and lonely for many struggling dairy farmers.

“We need them to stay profitable, so they can keep producing milk and provide for their families, and to preserve their chosen way of life, which has been that way for generations.”

The inquiry will be conducted via the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee. It is scheduled to report back with its findings and recommendations in March 2020.

Topics included in Senator Hanson’s notice of motion, including an examination of the ability of Dairy Australia to act independently and support the interests of both farmers and processors, the accuracy of statistical data collected by Dairy Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the funding of Dairy Australia and its consultation and engagement on certain expenditures, the merits of tasking the ACCC to investigate how it can regulate the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers to ensure a viable dairy industry, the introduction of a mandatory industry code of practice, and related matters.

Senator Hanson is encouraged that those and other matters will now be thoroughly investigated by the Parliament, to the benefit of the dairy industry and farmers.

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Pauline Hanson advises politics students to “think for themselves”

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MEDIA RELEASE

When One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was asked to Skype chat with politics students at a Western Australian high school, she read the request but went one step better: she turned up and met with the students in person.

The visit was a thrill for the politics and law students at the Living Waters Lutheran College, in Warnbro, who listened as she outlined her determined journey into federal politics, some of her personal beliefs, and then answered a range of their questions on a wide range of topics.

One of the key pieces of advice given by Australia’s most famous female political leader was to encourage young people to get involved in politics and also to think for themselves on political and social issues.

“What I say to everyone, and what I say to you, ‘Make up your own minds because, when you go to vote, it’s all about your future’,” Senator Hanson told the seniors.

“I might have policies that you don’t agree with, and the same with the other parties, but the whole thing is that you’re not going to agree with any political party on everything – I’m sure you won’t – but it’s about taking an interest in your future, and don’t be led into a certain way of thinking.”

Senator Hanson spoke on various issues, from her jailing for upsetting the two-party system, her unrelenting desire to fight for positive outcomes for Australia, she gave examples of political and media bias against her, her concerns about politicians’ perks, and her willingness to support good policy regardless of what party proposes it, if it’s for the good of Australia.

In response to students’ questions, she revealed her support of medicinal cannabis but strong objection to recreational drug usage, her opposition to pill testing at festivals, her thoughts on climate change protests, her support for religious freedoms including at religious schools, and her views on immigration.

“The media suggests that I’m against immigration – I’m not against immigration,” Senator Hanson explained.

“It’s about finding that balance where you can actually accommodate the people you bring in, and provide the necessary infrastructure for an increased population – the roads, the hospitals, the schools, the health care … so we have to ensure that the people who are here already have those services provided to them and that there is a decent standard of living.

“My duty is not to people in the rest of the world; my duty and my responsibility is the people who are here already.

“So, I’m passionate about looking after our own, clean up our own back yard first, and when we get it right then you can actually invite more people in because we are very fortunate with what we have in this country.”

Senator Hanson also responded to the students’ questions about allegations of racism.

“Criticism is not racism,” she explained. “My job is to assess issues, based on fact, and have an opinion.

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion – you may not be right, but you have a right to have an opinion – and then debate it.

“You will never solve the problems of this country if you are shut down because you want to speak outside the box.”

She spoke also of her meetings with the Bamaga Council in Torres Strait and with the traditional elders at Uluru, in the Northern Territory.

“Some people are actually hijacking the agenda and trying to be a voice for these Indigenous people, but they are not representing them,” she explained.

“And that is why, of all people, they’re coming to me, and I have their respect and gratitude, and I respect those people – I respect all Australians – it’s about working together and understanding each other.”

Senator Hanson scheduled the college visit soon after completing a stint on the HMAS Stirling submarine, which is based not far from the college, as part of the ADF Parliamentary Program.

She also joked about the “theft” of one of her life-size cardboard cut-outs from the Federal Election campaign, which is among the political paraphernalia that the students have on display in their classroom.

She happily autographed the cut-out to help enhance the students’ political collection.

Senator Hanson also met with the school’s principal, Francois Pienaar.

END

Pauline Hanson on Family Law

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I am very proud that I have played a role in highlighting the dire need for an all-encompassing inquiry of the Family Law and Child Support systems in Australia, and I thank the Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to give it the go-ahead.

An examination of this system is a need that I have pushed since first entering public life in 1996 and ramped that up further from my re-election as a senator in 2016.

This inquiry will be historic in that it will deliver the most comprehensive examination of the Family Law system in decades. 

It is a shame that Labor voted against this review, but I will leave it up to Labor MPs and Senators to explain their blunt opposition to their supporters who are suffering and actually need this review.

I am concerned that some self-interest groups are already trying to demean this vital investigation by suggesting I have an agenda or intend to show favouritism to certain sectors through the inquiry process. That suggestion is rubbish.

I have only one aim: to help facilitate a holistic, unhindered, unbiased review into a very complex system that is impacting negatively on the lives of hundreds and thousands of men, women and children across Australia.

Some commentators have suggested I will side with men in this review. That is also not true. Men and women, equally, reveal horror experiences created as a result of the Family Law system.

I do acknowledge that men are often unfairly disadvantaged and stigmatised in many family breakup situations, are often left without a voice and overlooked in favour of women’s rights; however, this review will listen to everyone.

It is true that there have been previous reviews, but all of those reviews were focussed on specific niche aspects of the Family Law and Child Support systems. This review will be unique in that it will look at the entire system; it is unhindered by tight terms of reference, short time-frames or geographical difficulties.

This review will welcome all opinions, all voices, all suggestions, from men and women from all cities and rural areas.

We need change to the Family Law system. We can only achieve that by putting aside political and philosophical differences and supporting a thorough, honest and open inquiry.

Kind regards

Pauline Hanson

Senator for Queensland

Leader of One Nation

END

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Hi-vis vests, King Gees and boots? Pauline Hanson welcomes mineworkers to share Family Law experiences

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Media Release

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson has assured she will push for hearings for the Family Law Inquiry to be scheduled in every state and territory, including in some of Australia’s remote mining areas.

The assurance has been welcomed by West Australian MLC Robin Scott, whose electorate includes the mining City of Kalgoorlie Boulder, and includes family law issues as key recent concerns.

Senator Hanson wants to make sure key sectors of the working community are not overlooked and that they get convenient access to the listening ears of committee members when the historic inquiry begins.

“This issue impacts people in all walks of Australian life – it doesn’t discriminate – and mine workers are among sectors of society that have been hit very hard, both financially and emotionally, by the problems in the system,” Senator Hanson said.

“I want to make sure they are able to have a say – they can turn up in their high-vis shirts, King Gees and work boots, however they feel comfortable – but they must have that opportunity to express their views.

“I’ll be pushing hard to make sure hearings are scheduled in key mining regions because everyone needs to be heard and we will come to them.”

Some mineworkers say they feel like they are regarded as “milking cows”, being continually hit for more funds by their ex-partners because of the relatively high wages they might receive as a result of the hard labour that goes with their profession. They also often feel they have nowhere to turn due to the remoteness of many of their work sites.

One Nation’s Mr Scott, whose constituents include the workers in Kalgoorlie Boulder, is a strong advocate for those locals impacted by Family Law shortcomings.

Mr Scott acknowledged there were horror stories from both men and women, and the review would give everyone a chance to have a say.

He also noted the high attendance at a Family Law and Child Safety forum held in Mandurah, just near Perth, in August as indicating the readiness of the local community to respond to the historic review.

The Family Law Inquiry is the most comprehensive review of the Family Law and Child Support systems in decades. It will be made up of 10 members of parliament and senators and will invite submissions from the public in coming weeks.

ENDS

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Emotional Sen Hanson admits shedding tears at her Family Law inquiry success

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ONE NATION leader Pauline Hanson has revealed how she shed tears on the confirmation that her long awaited inquiry into Australia’s family Law system would go ahead.

Senator Hanson has pushed personally for the inquiry for the past three years, believing it to be the most important social matter facing Australia today.

She added that the news of the high-level and far-reaching review will actually go ahead will bring hope to hundreds of thousands of Australians who “are floundering” in such difficult situations.

“When I received confirmation that this inquiry into Australia’s Family Law system is going ahead, I actually cried,” Senator Hanson told journalist of the Canberra Press Gallery.

“I cried because I know the heartache that is felt by hundreds of thousands of Australians impacted by the shortcomings of the Family Law system, at a time when they are going through one of the most difficult challenges of their lives – creating normality after separation and divorce.

“I also cried because of the realisation of the hopethat this inquiry will finally bringto people who are floundering in these situations.”

Senator Hanson noted that past investigations had revealed that three men each day commit suicide and one woman each week is murdered, as a result of the stress and hardships of the Family Law and Child Support regime.

“Just imagine, over the weekend, while most of us were enjoying time with friends and family, an average six men took their own lives, and far too many women experienced serious family violence,” she noted.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t live with that on my conscience, and these deaths are only occurring because Governments have failed to listen and act on the broken family law system.”

Senator Hanson noted that the Joint Select Committee on Reform of Australia’s Family Law System “will delve into the various aspects that have been making life unbearable for so many people dealing with separation and the aftermaths”.

“It will investigate all aspects of the family law and child support regime – custody arrangements, the division of assets, the impact of decisions made at ‘judges’ discretion’; the costs of legal representation, the behaviour of lawyers who, at times, drag the matters out for their own financial gain; the well-being of children; access for grandparents and other family members, and more.”

Sen Hanson said she expected the inquiry to be conducted over the course of 12 months, with public hearings to be held across Australia, in both rural areas and cities.

“This inquiry will not be an easy one,” she said.

“It will be emotional; I can imagine that I will not be the only one shedding more tears – most often in private – as this process goes forward.

“I thank the Prime Minister for his support of this ground-breaking inquiry, and I encourage the media here today to provide its support as we journey through this huge and important task.

“My goal – with community, political and media support – is to totally rebuild and make a better, more-workable, family law system for separating and separated couples and their families.

“And for those who are in the midst of family breakdown, those contemplating suicide and facing potential family violence, I’m asking you to stop and know that you’ve finally been heard.

“I beg you, please give me a chance to try and make change.” 

END

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Pauline Hanson: More subsidised apprenticeships needed

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MEDIA RELEASE

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for extra apprenticeship funding to add to Australia’s Regional Apprenticeship Program, along with some tweaking of guidelines, to help boost graduate numbers.

Places are particularly urgent in the electrical trade in Western Australia as numbers are in decline.

Senator Hanson negotiated an apprenticeship pilot program with The Australian Government, creating 1600 new subsidised apprenticeship places for regional Australians.

The program’s success has led to a further 1600 additional places being announced on July 1, to meet the countries growing demand for trainees and graduates in a number of trades.   

“The only way we reduce Australia’s reliance on overseas workers is to rebuild our own skilled workforce, using young Australian people,” Senator Hanson said.

“I’m very pleased that the Government agreed with my push for more apprenticeship places, but it’s no longer a pilot program and I’d like to see an extra zero added to the original number used in the trial.”

The comments follow a visit last month by a One Nation delegation to the National Electrical and Communications Association’s Western Australian apprenticeship training facility. One Nation’s WA leader Colin Tincknell led the delegation after Senator Hanson was a late withdrawal due to the flu.

NECA’s College of Electrical Training is the largest employer of electrical apprentices in Australia, with its apprentices regarded as being amongst the safest and best trained in the electro-technology industry.

But the college and the industry generally needs more funded training places to meet demand.

“Apprentice commencements in the electrical trade in Western Australia have been static and declining over the last couple of years; we’re not replacing the natural attrition in our industry, so, if we’re not careful, we’ll see a trade shortage within a couple of years and, with a four-year apprenticeship, that lag cycle will impact on the workforce,” Steve Hall, NECA’s GM of Training, said.

“It’s a wonderful start, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what we need; when you actually translate it out into actual apprenticeships that we can utilise, it worked out to maybe 16 or so for the electrical trade here in Western Australia, so we’ve got a long way to go.

“It’s a great start but we’d like to see a lot more places.”

Mr Hall also suggested support for mentoring, which he said had a huge impact on apprenticeship completion rates. He also suggested tailored incentives to encourage higher numbers of females, who traditionally enter apprenticeships a little older and therefore qualify for higher wages and fewer government support initiatives.

“Particularly novice learners as they’ve left school, enter a trade or an apprenticeship they often have those life issues, and having a mentor helps them get over those issues and allows them to complete their trade,” Mr Hall said.

“Often those programs only run for two years, so we never realise the true benefit of them, so it would be ideal if we’re going to fund a mentoring program, to fund it for at least the entire four-year program, that way we get a real longitudinal study and really see the results of providing mentoring for apprentices.

“Currently we have a female participation rate of between one-percent and three-percent; considering that over 50% of the population are female, we’re missing out on a lot of potential employees in our industry simply because we can’t attract them in.

“Whether it’s in the form of incentives to help the employees bridge that gap for the wages, or alternatively, maybe some concessions toward taxation or other things that allow the employer to not have to absorb the full cost of that wage increase by taking on a mature age person.”

The Regional Australia Apprenticeship Program secured by Senator Hanson sees the Federal Government pay 75% of the apprentice’s first year’s wage, followed by 50% in the second year and 25% in the third year.

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One Nation’s dire warning over proposed Qld timber industry changes

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MEDIA RELEASE

Senator Pauline Hanson has issued a dire warning over the Queensland Labor Government’s proposed changes to the timber clearing code, saying it will destroy the state’s hardwood industry.

The warning comes after Senator Hanson and fellow One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts attended a hardwood industry rally at Maryborough late last month (August 18).

“If we allow the State Government to continue down this destructive path, it will ruin the timber industry; it will shut down plantation owners, mills and the on-going employment that it creates,” Senator Hanson said bluntly.

The Queensland Labor Government is proposing changes to the clearing code that will greatly reduce the allowable harvest on private farms, who say the new laws are unworkable and will make harvesting unviable.

“A lot of these communities that have relied on the timber – like Maryborough – will feel the backlash if they start shutting down plantation owners,” Senator Hanson said.

“At the moment, they are saying you have to leave 150 stems – that is, trees – per hectare, and they’re wanting to increase that to 300 stems.

“That makes it too dense. It stops healthy growth of trees because they’re crowded, and, with that many trees on a hectare, it also means you can’t graze cattle because the grass won’t grow, so it’s just unproductive for people with plantations trying to grow trees.

“Farmers also can’t control the rubbish on the ground, which increases the risk of bushfire, so it’s an all-round negative impact, and One Nation will be totally opposing this.”

Many private landowners harvest timber to generate extra income, a practice that has helped new landowners get financially established, has helped keep farms viable during drought, and has helped fund local saw mills and jobs.

“The State Government is determined to shut down these private plantations and make them unviable, unworkable, and that’s their whole aim,” Senator Hanson said.

“This is the Labor party agenda, and the Greens agenda as well; there’s no rhyme or reason to it as far as I’m concerned.

“One other thing we need to be mindful of is: if we don’t produce timber here in Queensland, we will be looking at importing timber from other countries, and a lot of these countries will be actually felling their forests, being detrimental to the environment.

“It’s the most renewable resource we have; shutting it down is not the answer.”

END

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Pauline Hanson wants safety upgrades to keep rock climb open. | Media release

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Powerful emotions were on display when Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson met with the Anangu Mayatja Council of Elders at the base of Uluru to discuss Anangu jobs, the parliaments push to accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the imminent closure of the Rock climb.

The unlikeliest of allies flew into Uluru at the request of Traditional Elders following comments by Senator Hanson on Nine’s Today Show, that she didn’t understand why after 55 years of climbing, local aboriginals were keen to shut the tourist trail once and for all.

Senator Hanson said, “My view on keeping the climb open hasn’t changed, but my understanding of the need for better safety has.”

“After standing at the base of the Rock, I knew the climb was going to be tough – but after making it as high as the chain and having my shoes slip a number of times, I was terrified the further I went, the more likely I was to have an accident and fall down.”

“I’m surprised the Territory and Federal Government’s have allowed the climb to remain as unsafe as it is for this long.”

“If the Rock is to ever re-open, it needs a major overhaul of its safety, somewhat similar to the type of protection used on the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb.”

Visitor numbers are set to exceed 500,000 this year as the October 26 deadline fast approaches and the climb is closed for good.

“If tourist numbers drop off following the climb closure, I hold grave concerns for Aboriginal jobs and the ability for the $300 million dollar loan to purchase the resorts will be repaid to the Government.”

Local Anangu Elders also described their worry over the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA), who they say disregard local Anangu people for jobs at the Ayers Rock Resort.

Anangu Mayatja Council Elder, Tjimpuna Ruby said up to 150 Anangu people live in the Mutitjulu community, but are overlooked for some of the most menial of jobs like cleaning, customer service and some of the more desired positions including Park Ranger.

Ms Ruby said, “Jobs are going to First Nation people from Queensland, New South Wales and other locations across Australia before her own people which is affecting the mindsets of locals. They are feeling ignored and rejected by their own people which is creating enormous divide amongst traditional owners of the Rock.”

The six Anangu Mayatja Council Elders also told Senator Hanson that they do not accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart, describing it as a “rag” that does not speak for their people.

Ms Ruby said, “I want the aboriginal academics and activists to stop talking on behalf of the Anangu people. They are not closing the gap, they are widening and whitening the gap.”

Senator Hanson has given her commitment to helping the Anangu people meet with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Ken Wyatt and have a voice amongst other Government Ministers in Canberra.

END