Hanson’s likely return to the Senate is typical of chaotic independents Australians should be aware of: Joyce

THE most divisive figure in Australian politics is tipped to win a Senate seat this year. Are we ready for this latest version?

VOTE for the nation but not One Nation, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce urged the electorate today amid fears of an unworkable Senate after July 2.

The Nationals leader warned of “chaotic independents and microparties” with candidates in the double dissolution election where winning a seat will be easier than in a regular half-Senate poll.

One Nation creator Pauline Hanson has been tipped to win a Senate seat in Queensland. If so it would be her first victory since 1996 and her second in 10 attempts.

Mr Joyce — who himself was a Queensland senator for eight years, seven months and one day before moving to a Lower Hose seat in NSW — said Queenslanders did not want to be lectured.

“Now, Ms Hanson will run her race. The others will run their race too,” he told the National Press Club in Canberra.

“I think that after the fury and the colour, people may quietly just assess what is truly not only in Queensland’s interests but, most importantly, what truly is in our nation’s interests.

“Because, remember, so often you are not just voting for your electorate. You are not just voting for your Senator, you are voting for the nation of Australia.

“You have a responsibility to the nation ... like all the men and women who served our nation.

“Why do they do it? Because they believe in this nation. So, vote for your Senator, vote for your electorate, but first and foremost vote for your nation.”

Mr Joyce is fighting independent and former MP Tony Windsor in his seat of New England, while Nationals colleague Luke Hartsuyker is defending the NSW seat of Cowper against another former independent MP, Rob Oakeshott.

“A similar battle is being waged in the Senate against chaotic independents and micro parties that feed off the celebrity of an election campaign but once elected are unaccountable, obstructionist and do nothing for their communities,” said Mr Joyce.

He said the Nationals get “real results for the little person on the issues others ignore”.

Mr Joyce used the speech to announce a proposed $4.5 billion Regional Investment Corporation to fast-track the delivery of drought and water infrastructure loans.