Tiler seeks senate seat

One Nation hopeful ran in Qld

ONE Nation has announced the head of its senate ticket in Tasmania — a tiler who most recently ran for the party in Queensland with reported family ties to Devonport.

The conservative party led by Queensland senator Pauline Hanson confirmed yesterday Matthew Stephen would lead One Nation’s Tasmanian senate ticket with further candidates to be announced “in the next few weeks”.

Mr Stephen, who attracted controversy over claims of unpaid wages during the by-election for the federal Lower House seat, an allegation he denied, trailed Labor and the Liberals with 14,061 first preference votes when Queenslanders went to the ballot box last year.

Asked if Mr Stephen was in Tasmania, a One Nation spokeswoman said: “Yes he lives and works in Davenport, where is Father and other family members grow up.”

The party has been cutting deals with Katter’s Australia Party in Queensland to exchange preferences in key north Queensland seats and in the Senate.

A similar deal helped Kat- ter’s Australia Party win a Queensland state seat in 2017.

Asked this week if any deals were being negotiated in Tasmania, a One Nation spokesman said: “Each Tasmanian voter owns their preference, they will choose their 2nd and 3rd preference.”

Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has pledged to run candidates in Tasmania and the Australian Conservatives have announced two senate candidates, Justin Stringer and Nigel Frame. Jacqui Lambie will also work to win back her seat.

Tasmanian Greens senator Nick McKim came within 141 votes of losing his seat to One Nation candidate Kate McCulloch in 2016.

The party has a suite of federal election policies on its website, including reducing Australia’s immigration intake.

Matthew Stephen