Emma Hicks says she’s a genuine person who doesn’t lie. Photo: One Nation.
Minor political party One Nation’s candidate for Farrer says she wants to stop immigration from “extremist countries” and has pledged to address cost of living pressures for ordinary Australians.
Emma Hicks, a 56-year-old remedial massage therapist from Springdale Heights in Albury, will represent the party formed by firebrand Queensland politician Pauline Hanson at the upcoming federal election.
Like her leader, Ms Hicks sees immigration as a key issue.
“We’d want to cut immigration down to 130,000 a year and deal with the 75,000 visa overstayers; that would help address our housing crisis,” she said.
“We can’t be bringing in people from extremist countries; … you can’t mix oil and water.
“I’ve got nothing against immigration. I have friends from all over the world, my first best friend as a child was from Vietnam … but we’ve got to be very careful about who we bring into this country and it can’t be from extremist nations.
“Everything Pauline Hanson has been speaking about for the past three decades is happening; what she’s saying is all true.”
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has held the giant seat of Farrer – which includes Albury, Griffith and extends to the South Australian border – for 24 years. She has a 33 per cent margin, making it one of the safest in the country.
While conceding One Nation was unlikely to take it off her at this election, Ms Hicks said she was building up the party’s supporter base in the Murray region and playing the long game.
“There may be a day when One Nation will lead the government. People are waking up. Right wing leaders are becoming leaders of nations across the world … Trump didn’t get into office by accident, people voted him in,” she said.
“One Nation are the new conservatives … the Liberals are moving away from conservatism; they’re becoming more like Labor used to be and Labor are becoming more socialist.”
Ms Hicks also wants to relieve cost of living pressures by reducing taxes on fuel and alcohol served at venues, and by allowing retirees to take up paid employment without losing their pension.
“Who can live on the pension? It’s ridiculous. With how much everything is going up, how are people supposed to live. They worked their whole life, and they’re getting a measly amount of money, it’s just wrong,” she said.
“Housing is unaffordable in Albury … there are people living in cars. You don’t see refugees living in cars do you?”
The 56-year-old said One Nation could hold the balance of power (a situation in which neither major party holds a majority of seats and needs the support of others to pass laws) and therefore be able to change policies.
“One Nation had the idea of halving the fuel tax and the Liberals adopted it,” she said.
“We are slashing electricity prices by 20 per cent by changing national electricity market rules.”
Ms Hicks grew up in a Liberal Party voting family in Melbourne. She has also worked in the AirForce and as a post officer.
“What you see is what you get with me. When you meet me the BS meter won’t go off. I’m genuine and real; I don’t lie and I’m not afraid to stand up with what I believe,” she said.
