Hanson heads into town

ONE Nation leader and Queensland Senator, Pauline Hanson, stopped in Bendigo last Wednesday as part of a campaign trail supporting her Victorian candidates.

Ms Hanson was joined by Bendigo candidate Ben Mihail, senate candidate for Victoria Warren Pickering, and four other Victorian One Nation hopefuls.

A crowd of just over 50 people gathered at the Bridge Hotel to hear Ms Hanson address her supporters.

“I’m very thrilled to have so many candidates take the time to come here today with our lead senate candidate,” she said.

Ms Hanson said she couldn’t comment on Ben Mihail’s campaign in Bendigo so far.

“I can’t comment on that, I don’t know,” she said. “It’s unfair of me to say that because I haven’t been here to actually see it, I just flew in today.”

As part of their election push, One Nation is campaigning for a Royal Commission into decisions made regarding the COVID-19 pandemic by Federal and State governments.

The conservative party is also calling for family law reforms, and for the Federal Government to stop using “immigration to prop up our GDP or find skilled workers.”

Ms Hanson said she believes many people will turn to less mainstream alternatives at this month’s election, as they are “fed up” with the Liberal and Labor offerings.

“[People are] looking at minor parties and independents because they want change,” she said.

“If you want change, if you want a protest vote, vote for the minors and independents and then put your majors last. That’s the only way they’ll start to not take the voter for granted.”