‘ Copy cat’ stirs One Nation
AN independent Thuringowa candidate has been accused by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation of deceiving the public by trying to exploit the party’s popularity in North Queensland.
Stephen Lane, who was initially running in the seat of Townsville but recently switched, posted a video to his campaign Facebook page on Sunday night declaring he is a One Nation supporter and a party member.
He then shared the video to his personal page with a post stating: “I am a One Nation member running for the seat of Thuringowa”.
Mr Lane told the Bulletin yesterday that he believed the video made it very clear he was an independent, following up with another video last night.
“I’m purely doing what any independent candidate who is a member of a political party does in announcing allegian- ces,” he said. “I am a very proud member of One Nation … but the only way I want to appeal to voters is as an independent.”
One Nation spokesman James Ashby confirmed he had asked Mr Lane to remove the first video, claiming it “deceived the public”.
He said records showed Mr Lane only became a member of One Nation at the start of October.
“It’s very clear he thinks One Nation is doing well polling wise and what he has tried to do is capitalise on the good brand we’ve built,” he said.
Mr Ashby said One Nation would announce a candidate for Thuringowa in coming days.