One Nation threatens future of Queensland-owned assets by recruiting ‘Strong Choices’ MP

The Electrical Trades Union today called into question One Nation’s anti-privatisation platform following the party’s recruitment of an LNP MP prominent in the Newman Government’s Strong Choices campaign.

Member for Buderim Steve Dickson today switched from the Liberal National Party to One Nation, to become the sole member of Pauline Hanson’s party in Queensland Parliament.

A Minister in the Newman Government, Mr Dickson argued heavily in the lead up to the 2015 election for voters to embrace Tim Nicholls’ privatisation campaign.

But in October last year Mr Dickson stated he went along with the LNP’s position despite not personally supporting the sale of public assets.

Electrical Trades Union Queensland and NT Acting Secretary Peter Ong said the recruitment of an MP who had already cast aside his principles to support the LNP’s privatisation agenda showed One Nation could not be trusted to protect assets.

“As we saw in Federal politics, One Nation talk a lot of talk about how they will represent the interests of working people but when they get into parliament they sell out those very same people by backing LNP legislation,” Mr Ong said.

“Steve Dickson has already put aside his own personal views on privatisation to appease the LNP once before –  no doubt we can expect he and other potential One Nation MPs to sell out Queenslanders again to serve their Liberal friends.

“In fact he’s written the blueprint for One Nation to go against their word and support Nicholls’ sale of Queensland assets.”

Mr Ong said Mr Dickson’s move was not surprising considering how much the LNP and One Nation were beginning to resemble each other.

“One Nation senators in the Federal Government voted with the Turnbull Government more than 80% of the time last year,” he said.

“They are practically an extension of the LNP now, so it doesn’t shock me at all that another Liberal would join former Liberal Pauline Hanson in One Nation.”