One Nation sacks shamed candidate

PAULINE Hanson has told voters they deserve better after sacking One Nation’s Queensland leader Steve Dickson over his drunken strip club romp in which he groped a dancer and made offensive comments.

The One Nation boss says she was shocked and disappointed by footage of Mr Dickson’s actions at a Washington DC strip club last year and there was no longer a place for him in her party.

Mr Dickson, who was also a Senate candidate, resigned as soon as footage of his X-rated antics was aired.

“Steve Dickson offered his resignation which I have accepted,” Sen Hanson said. CONTROVERSIAL Senator Cory Bernardi says the penetration of the far-right in mainstream politics has nudged him out of the limelight.

Speaking at an Australian Conservatives campaign launch on the Gold Coast yesterday, Sen Bernardi said he was used to making headlines, but now struggled to capture attention.

“What I find interesting is that I used to be the most controversial person in politics,” he said.

“And yet now, everything that I’ve been talking about for a long time is spoken quite widely.

“You know, people are concerned about the cultural mix in Australia, about the education standards, they’re worried about the indoctrination of our children. They’re worried about immigration and balancing the Budget.

“That’s all so mainstream. That’s great, but what I lament is that other people are trying to push the barrow into directions that I think are really unhealthy for the country.”

Sen Bernardi, who previously linked gay marriage with the social acceptance of bestiality and polygamy, said his party would not stoop to the lows of other minor parties to draw attention.