Will NSW Libs allow nationals backdoor preference deal with One Nation
NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord has accused NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian of being “tricky” on preferences saying she attacks the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF), but remains silent on One Nation preferences.
Walt Secord
Ms Berejiklian said today she won’t swap preferences with Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, but she did not make the same commitment on One Nation.
Mr Secord said NSW Labor did not rule out preferences to the SFF but ruled out preferences to One Nation.
Mr Secord said that the Premier was “lying” and he had confirmed with the SFF that it did not have a policy to allow 10 year-olds to use guns.
“Furthermore, I know all three SFF parliamentarians well. In fact, I visited Israel in 2012 on an NSW Jewish Board of Deputies-planned study tour – self-funded by parliamentarians along with SFF MP Robert Borsak, whose father was imprisoned in Poland for fighting the Nazis during World War II.
“I also know that there would be no winding back of gun laws in NSW, under a State Labor government. This desperate Premier is scare-mongering.”
Mr Secord, who is also deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel said if a preference ban on One Nation was to be effective it had to extend to the National Party – as One Nation is much stronger in rural and regional NSW than in Sydney.
Mr Secord was responding to a Fairfax media report today on One Nation and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party preferences.
“This tactic is straight out of the Liberal-National Party playbook: say one thing in Sydney to ethnic community groups and do the complete opposite in rural areas.”
Mr Secord said One Nation policies and its leader Pauline Hanson were “divisive”.
“It is very disappointing to see Gladys Berejiklian cosying up to One Nation – especially when she trots out her personal story as a child of migrants on every possible occasion. I am very surprised by her actions. They are disappointing and disgraceful,” Mr Secord said.
In a November 7 Sydney press conference, Ms Berejiklian was asked seven times whether she would engage in a preference deal with One Nation – and she refused to a swap with One Nation.
This was after NSW Labor immediately ruled out a preference deal after it was revealed former Federal Labor leader Mark Latham had joined One Nation – and was planning to run as its number one candidate for the NSW Legislative Council in late-March 2019.
“NSW Labor will not do any preference deals with One Nation,” Mr Secord said.
“I challenge the Premier to get both the Liberals and the Nationals to make the same commitment. The community deserves a clear and unequivocal on preference deals with One Nation,” Mr Secord said.
Furthermore, Mr Secord predicted that the Nationals and the conservative side of politics could lose several NSW Upper House seats to One Nation in a Trump-style result from angry rural voters.
“Even before Mark Latham stepped on the stage with One Nation, the Orange and Wagga by-election results showed that rural voters have their cricket bats poised at the ready for the NSW Coalition. This is why Gladys Berejiklian is refusing to distance herself from One Nation.”
I fail to see what One Nation has done to cause division.It’s an outdated half truth- rather like saying John Howard was still against Asians after his 1987 speech.
In the West Australian Parlt One Nation MLC Robin Scott instigated the investigation into possible intimidation of indigenous people at Pinjin Station.At federal level,Sen Georgiou has helped a Sri Lankan visa holder gain permanent residency.
One Nation is a friend of freedom and the heritage which Australia enjoys.That is why many seek refuge here.
Of course the 2 big parties hate One Nation: liars fear those who tell the truth.
The working class and middle class rural are not as progressive in terms of immigrants as urban people to a certain degree .
There communities are more established and have less flux and change as compared to cities .
The Global Economy brings many peoples to cities so people get used to differences .