One Nation is a real threat

ONE Nation is shaping up to be a formidable political force in Queensland.

But leader Pauline Hanson needs to get her house in order if she and the party are to be taken seriously.

She scored a coup yesterday with Sunshine Coast MP Steve Dickson quitting the LNP and joining One Nation.

But her candidate for Mulgrave Peter Rogers has offered to resign after his website published a conspiracy-laden article about a refugee Syrian toddler found lying dead on a Turkish beach and a claim the Port Arthur massacre was fabricated.

Already two of One Nation’s state candidates – Currumbin candidate Andy Semple and more recently Bundamba candidate Shan Ju Lin – have been disendorsed or resigned over inflammatory social media posts about the LGBTI community.

At a federal level Ms Hanson has already lost WA Senator Rod Culleton after he was found bankrupt.

These are distractions for a party which is providing a real alternative for voters dissatisfied with the main political forces.

With four senate seats she is now looking to expand the One Nation footprint at a state level at the looming Queensland election.

Opinion polls vary when it comes to One Nation support in Queensland, but there is little doubt that right now it is in a position where a number of regional and semi-urban seats are within reach.

The Far North is a key target and the main parties will be foolish to ignore voters’ concerns or the threat of One Nation.

The state election will be very interesting and could be a real game changer.