Rural Queensland Voters Consider One Nation Over Nationals in Maranoa

Residents in parts of Queensland's Maranoa electorate say they are considering voting for One Nation instead of the Nationals at the next federal election. The electorate covers 731,297 square kilometres and has been held by the Nationals and its predecessors since 1943.

Darren Munt, a cattle and dairy farmer near Kingaroy, said he would vote for One Nation if an election were held now. He cited the party's positions on immigration and housing costs. Cath Kenny, who owns a cafe in Nanango, said politicians should experience living on local wages.

She noted that Pauline Hanson has owned a takeaway shop and lived a standard life.

Bjelke-Petersen, who lives in Kingaroy, criticised decades of federal trade policy that he said allowed imports of peanuts with higher heavy metal levels. He stated that services in rural towns have been reduced. James Lane, a farmer near Yarraman, said he supports One Nation's proposal for a domestic gas reserve and its focus on Australian families.

He added that he objects to Hanson's past wearing of a burqa in parliament. Steve Oliphant, a retired teacher in Kingaroy, said he was surprised by One Nation's performance in the Farrer byelection. Dorothy Pratt, who won a state seat for One Nation in 1998, said she hopes the party has learned from past internal problems.

University associate professor Paul Williams said One Nation's prospects in Maranoa have moved from impossible to plausible after the Farrer result. Antony Green stated that One Nation will poll strongly in rural electorates but that those seats will not decide the next election.