The Daily Telegraph editorial: One Nation spirals into decline over US gun lobby donation plot

All major political parties go through cycles of popularity and decline. Generally these cycles occur across relatively long ­periods of time. But One Nation is a little different.

All major political parties go through cycles of popularity and decline. Generally these cycles occur across relatively long ­periods of time.

In 2008, for example, Labor governments were in place federally and in every single state. The highest-ranking Liberal ­office-holder was Campbell Newman, then the Lord Mayor of Brisbane. Over time, however, the balance again shifted.

One Nation is a little different. Its fortunes can rise and fall within months, driven by occasional bursts of popularity and then brought down by infighting or political incompetence.

This has been the case with One Nation ever since the party was founded.

Until Clive Palmer entered the scene with his United Australia rabble, One Nation reigned as the least disciplined and intellectually weakest party of modern political times.

United Australia Party can be said as the least disciplined and intellectually weakest. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

One Nation has lately been enjoying one of its periodic upswings, with one federal senator — party leader Pauline Hanson — and five state representatives scattered across NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. ­

Inevitably, then, and following previous patterns, One Nation might next have been expected to do something stupid. Step forward, Hanson chief of staff James Ashby and One ­Nation Queensland state leader Steve Dickson.

The enterprising One Nation duo recently travelled to the US, having been tricked by an Al-­Jazeera reporter who posed as a gun lobbyist.

In one recorded conversation with the bogus lobbyist, Ashby and Dickson muse over the possibility of generating up to $20 million in ­donations from US sources.

Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby was caught trying to secure campaign funding from the National Rifle Association. Picture: Supplied

Hanson has been asked to please explain. Picture: AP Photo/Rod McGuirk

According to Ashby, such a sum would put One Nation in control of Australia. “We get the balance of power,” Ashby says.

“Very simply that means that we have the testicles of the gov­ernment in our hand at every given stage.”

That isn’t how politics works. Dumb ideas don’t become any better just because there is some money behind them.

Ashby on Tuesday offered a typically One Nation response to the whole debacle.

“I will be the first to admit, we’d arrived in America, we got on the sauce, we’d had a few drinks and that’s where those discussions took place,” he said.

For all their trouble, Ashby and Dickson did not pick up a single cent. It was a classic One Nation performance.

LET’S NAPLAN THE TEACHERS

Perhaps NAPLAN testing should be massively expanded — to include school principals and teachers.

A Daily Telegraph review of public school newsletters reveals numerous spelling errors. Some would be comical except these same teachers are in charge of children’s education.

Among other blunders, Drummoyne Public School can’t spell occurred, Homebush Boys can’t spell successful, and Peakhurst High School can’t spell knowledge.

The authors plainly can’t use spellchecking technology either. Perhaps their students are available for after-hours tutorials.

CITIZENS FIRST, CRIMS LAST

Useful laws are in place to protect the privacy of those who are the victims of certain crimes. These laws prevent a victim from suffering twice: once from the crime itself, and again from a public awareness of their trauma.

Yet, as The Daily Telegraph reports, State Parole Authority chairman Justice James Wood has cited the “privacy” of offenders as a reason for not revealing the identities of criminals who are being released back into the community.

The safety of the public should be put first instead of the “privacy” of offenders.

Possibly the most compelling argument against this is offered by Erin Bradley, who was just 12-years-old when her older sister Leigh was murdered.

“The safety of the general community is more important than an offender’s privacy,” Erin points out. “They should not have the right to privacy.”

In fact, until The Daily Telegraph began a campaign in January to reduce the secrecy throughout the NSW justice system, not one parole decision had been revealed by state authorities in six years.

Further progress is needed. The needs of the broader community must always come first.