One Nation has underlined the importance of fair and effective representation for North Queensland by holding its election campaign launch for the state in Cairns this week.
Party leader Senator Pauline Hanson said as the most decentralised state on the Australian mainland, strong regional representation was critical for Queensland.

“Award-winning Cairns businesswoman Geena Court will be a great representative for this much-neglected part of Australia,” Senator Hanson said. “Geena is absolutely dedicated to the communities of Cairns and North Queensland. She’s run a number of successful businesses, winning many awards while promoting the region as place to live and visit. Geena is tough on crime, working to extend crime prevention programs into this region.

“Selecting Geena on our Senate ticket for the state shows One Nation is very serious about ensuring strong representation in Canberra for North Queensland.”
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts said the party’s campaign had a primary focus on cost-of-living and tax relief, and immigration reform.

“Our plan will slash government waste and put $40 billion more in Australians’ pockets,” Senator Roberts said. “We’ll halve the fuel excise, taking 26c per litre off the cost of fuel. We’ll reduce electricity bills by 20% by changing the NEM rules to favour cheaper, more reliable power. We’ll abolish the excise on alcohol served at hospitality venues and freeze excise increases on all alcohol.

“One Nation’s plan will also allow couples with children to split incomes and save thousands on tax, allow aged and veteran pensioners to earn money working without their pensions being affected, and lift the tax-free threshold for self-funded retirees to $35,000.”

Ms Court said she would pursue a range of policy and infrastructure priorities for North Queensland.
“We want to build better connections into the Atherton Tablelands – starting with fixing the Kuranda Range road – to unlock its agricultural export potential, reinstate the Hells Gate Dam at Townsville that was scrapped by Labor, and look at building a new low-emissions coal-fired power station in the region to provide more energy capacity and more competition in North Queensland,” she said.

“I’ll be campaigning hard on One Nation’s policy to exempt insurance premiums from the GST. Insurance premiums in North Queensland have risen alarmingly due to escalating crime in the region.

“And I will be advocating for One Nation’s full range of sensible cost-of-living measures. Labor’s cost-of-living crisis has hit regional areas like North Queensland very hard, with no end in sight unless One Nation’s measures are adopted as soon as possible.

“Australians are looking for politicians with a vision for the future and the capacity to see them through. They want representatives with ideas that will benefit their kids and grandkids, and who put the interests of their country, their community and its people first. One Nation will deliver for North Queensland and all communities in Australia.”

ENDS