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| Dick Smith backs Pauline Hanson on immigration | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The millionaire businessman Dick Smith says he won’t be financially backing Pauline Hanson or running for the One Nation party but he supports her immigration policy. | The millionaire businessman Dick Smith says he won’t be financially backing Pauline Hanson or running for the One Nation party but he supports her immigration policy. |
| Smith was planning to meet with the senator before Christmas to throw his weight behind her party, News Corp reported on Tuesday. But he talked down the extent of his support when interviewed on Channel Ten. | Smith was planning to meet with the senator before Christmas to throw his weight behind her party, News Corp reported on Tuesday. But he talked down the extent of his support when interviewed on Channel Ten. |
| He said people were disillusioned with the major parties and traditional Liberal supporters in Sydney’s North Shore, where he lives, had been talking about voting for One Nation. | He said people were disillusioned with the major parties and traditional Liberal supporters in Sydney’s North Shore, where he lives, had been talking about voting for One Nation. |
| His only interest in the party was its immigration policy, he said, and its stance on reforming the aviation sector. | His only interest in the party was its immigration policy, he said, and its stance on reforming the aviation sector. |
| “I’m not planning to join Pauline Hanson’s party – all I’m saying is I support her population policy and I think it’s really important,” he said. “This country has an optimal carrying capacity and we are going to end up with many Aussies not having a job.” | “I’m not planning to join Pauline Hanson’s party – all I’m saying is I support her population policy and I think it’s really important,” he said. “This country has an optimal carrying capacity and we are going to end up with many Aussies not having a job.” |
| Smith, who rejected Hanson’s call for a ban on Muslim migration, said Australia should not go down the path of the United States and create a “working poor”. | Smith, who rejected Hanson’s call for a ban on Muslim migration, said Australia should not go down the path of the United States and create a “working poor”. |
| “We will end up with an incredible number of poor people that will never have a job,” he said. “If you want to encourage people into terrorism you have a situation where they never have a job.” | “We will end up with an incredible number of poor people that will never have a job,” he said. “If you want to encourage people into terrorism you have a situation where they never have a job.” |
| Asked whether he would financially back the party, he said: “No, I won’t be. I have no plans to do anything like that.” As for running for parliament, Smith said he was “too old” at 72. | Asked whether he would financially back the party, he said: “No, I won’t be. I have no plans to do anything like that.” As for running for parliament, Smith said he was “too old” at 72. |
| Hanson, who plans to stand candidates in the New South Wales and federal elections, said she welcomed Smith taking an interest in her policies. “It turns out we have a lot in common,” she tweeted. | Hanson, who plans to stand candidates in the New South Wales and federal elections, said she welcomed Smith taking an interest in her policies. “It turns out we have a lot in common,” she tweeted. |
| Like many Australians, Dick Smith decided to listen to my ideas & look at my policies & it turns out we have a lot in common #auspol #qldpol | Like many Australians, Dick Smith decided to listen to my ideas & look at my policies & it turns out we have a lot in common #auspol #qldpol |
| Malcolm Turnbull said people such as Smith were entitled to their political views. “But we are reminded constantly that the major concern Australians have is over the security of their jobs, the strength of the economy, whether their children and grandchildren will have good jobs in the future,” the prime minister told reporters in Sydney. | Malcolm Turnbull said people such as Smith were entitled to their political views. “But we are reminded constantly that the major concern Australians have is over the security of their jobs, the strength of the economy, whether their children and grandchildren will have good jobs in the future,” the prime minister told reporters in Sydney. |