Pauline Hanson SA tour: Electricity costs driving workers and industries away

South Australia’s push for more migrants shows it’s “not working hard enough” to encourage its own workers to stay in the state, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says.

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South Australia’s push for more migrants shows it’s “not working hard enough” to encourage its own workers to stay in the state, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says.

Senator Hanson, who is recovering after having her appendix removed, will today begin touring SA’s regional cities with her lead Senate candidate, Jennifer Game.

Her visit comes as One Nation party’s support was revealed to have crashed to four per cent — in the wake of the guns-for-funds scandal — according to the first Newspoll since the May 18 election was called.

Senator Hanson, who believes the true poll is on election day, says Adelaide is “very important” to One Nation.

“We missed out on the last seat in the 2016 election,” Senator Hanson said.

“We got good support down here but it was not enough just to get us over the line.”

Ahead of her four-day tour, which today includes the towns of Murray Bridge, Loxton, Renmark and Berri, Senator Hanson told The Advertiser the cost of electricity was at the centre of the state’s population and business woes.

Pauline Hanson on the campaign trail in Berri with local One Nation candidate Jennifer Game. Tricia Watkinson

“South Australia has put up their hands because you want migrants coming to the state,” she said.

“It’s a real shame because you’re not working hard enough to encourage those people that are born in the state that would really love to stay here but cannot afford to stay here, or they haven’t got work in the state.

“You have got to have baseload power.”

Senator Hanson says the rising cost of electricity was driving industries and manufacturing out of the state, contributing to a loss of jobs.

“Those who are struggling to make ends meet will start looking at other states,” she said.

“SA must cut the cord with neighbouring states who supply the bulk of its baseload power and build a new High-Efficiency, Low-Emissions (HELE) power plant that will

service the needs of the state and resurrect manufacturing.”

Along with the need for more baseload power, Senator Hanson in her pitch to voters this week will call on the Federal Government to subsidise revenue from payroll taxes, so states lower the rate as an incentive for businesses to boost employment.

During her visit to towns in the state’s Riverina, Senator Hanson will also call for a Federal Government inquiry into the Murray-Darling water system.

“We’re making a lot of money out of the sale of water but it is not assisting these communities, and all the farming sector,” she said.

“I’d like to have a full investigation into the Murray-Darling.”

Later this week Senator Hanson will visit Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and the Gawler area.