Allan Hicken - One Nation

Removing discriminatory COVID mandates that are affecting people’s lives is a priority for One Nation candidate Allan Hicken.

When Mr Hicken joined the party six months ago, he did so hoping he could contribute to change.

“I looked into all the party’s policies and saw they stood for a lot of what I stand for. I put my hand up because it’s the only way to get change.

At the 2019 election One Nation received 7.6 per cent of the primary vote in Monash. Mr Hicken has set only one target to beat that vote - “I want to win, I want change.”

Mr Hicken is passionate about addressing issues such as mandates and discrimination against people who are now out of work because of COVID mandates, which he says the federal government should have stepped in an overruled on.

A fitter and turner in the power industry, Mr Hicken was personally affected by mandates that took away his right to work. Not an anti-vaxxer, he believes people have a choice and there was no long term data available on the COVID vaccine.

He said he had been working in a COVID safe environment at Yallourn Power Station, with extensive safety protocols in place, so why did a mandate have to be introduced.

“There was no common sense behind the mandates and it’s destroying families. The mandates are affecting family and business and it’s something we can stop.

A new hospital for Warragul and delivering affordable housing to the electorate also are key issues for Mr Hicken.He said he was told regularly that population had grown significantly around Warragul but the old hospital was falling apart. He said he would lobby to attract government funding for a new hospital.

Mr Hicken said the Build, Rent, Buy scheme would offer an opportunity to the 460 people waiting for a rental property in Leongatha to enter the housing market.

He said the scheme would boost local employment to build the homes and then offer residents 10 years rent with an option to buy and pay off the outstanding value at the end of the term.

Mr Hicken said the cost of living was a major issue for people, who were feeling it with the increasing costs of bills and groceries.

With a working background in the power industry, he said there needed to be an overhaul of base load power to deliver savings to consumers. ”When the solar isn’t working and the wind turbines aren’t spinning and we drop into base load power, the price of electricity goes up.

“We can go down the renewable path but the fact is fossil fuels are our best options. There are smart low emission options that can be put in place such as converting power stations to run off low pressure steam.

“We need to retro-fit the old power plants and that creates jobs, lower emissions and doesn’t blow the budget.

Mr Hicken is a supporter of an independent commission for investigating government corruption - “absolutely get it going but it has to have teeth.”

“It needs to be fully independent and can’t just focus on one target group, it has to focus on all areas of Canberra,” he said.