One Nation’s pledge if it holds balance of power
Senator Pauline Hanson has revealed the key issues her party would push if One Nation is delivered a casting vote in the upcoming Queensland election.
QLD Votes
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Votes. Followed categories will be added to My News.
One Nation would scrap university placement fees charged by the state government and guarantee to block any attempt to raise and expand the GST if it holds the balance of power.
The commitments come as party leader Pauline Hanson ramps up the party’s demands in the lead up to an election she hopes will deliver One Nation a casting vote in the parliament.
One Nation currently holds one seat in central Queensland but a Newspoll in the Weekend Australian showed its primary vote dropping to 9 per cent down from 13.7 per cent at the 2017 election.
Senator Hanson said if One Nation secured the balance of power it would scrap a little-known arrangement under which the state government charges universities for students in course such as nursing to undertake mandatory placements.
She said placement costs ”gouged” up to $12,000 out of some students.
“If we can eliminate these placement costs, we’ll bring the cost of education down in courses that benefit every single Queenslander,” she said.
“Nursing and teaching students are an extra pair of hands and should stop being treated as a cost burden on Queensland hospitals and schools.”
Central Queensland University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Klomp said the school was liable for more than $3m in student placement costs in 2019.
“While universities are obligated to cover these costs, it can become unviable where the cost of providing placements exceeds the funding received for teaching students in those programs,” he said.
A Queensland Health spokesman said the funding arrangements had been in place for two decades and placement programs could reduce “service speed” and increase the use of consumables.
“Contributions are provided to support supervision and provisions – cutting them entirely may mean less money for clinical care,” he said.
Senator Hanson also signalled she would push the leaders of both major parties to rule out any increase to the GST after a report from accounting giant PwC canvassed reforms including a higher rate and broadened base to “reboot prosperity”.
“I’ve been warning Australians this was coming and voters deserve a clear answer from Deb Frecklington and Annastacia Palaszczuk as to whether they will support an increase to the GST,” she said.
Originally published as One Nation’s pledge if it holds balance of power