For those that haven't already come across her biography, Pauline Hanson is a Brisbanite who ran a series of small retail businesses before entering politics. She was first elected as a city councillor in 1994, and later endorsed as a Liberal Party candidate in 1995.
Finding herself unceremoniously disendorsed by the Liberal Party in the run-up to an election, she went on to win the seat of Oxley as an independent, and made her somewhat infamous maiden speech to parliament in September 1996.
Better known for what some have labelled a xenofobic stance on multiculturalism, Hanson's One Nation Party's support among rural voters is reflected in her policy intentions regarding the privatisation of Telstra and regional access to Broadband.
Generally speaking, the One Nation Party responses reflect the party's understanding of, and consequent position on, all things high tech.
- Would you support further privatisation of Telstra? How will you promote the rollout and uptake of broadband services in Australia?
Pauline Hanson's One Nation does not support the privatisation of Telstra or any of Australian's public assets. The government is selling assets because Australia is broke. One Nation believes that privatisation of Telstra is likely to result in more job losses in the IT sector, poorer service to rural areas and higher prices for customers.
The Federal Government has failed completely in the rollout of broadband services. While many Australians are still struggling with dial-up internet services, the government's broadband strategy has resulted in installation problems, companies promoting services that are not ready, carriers going bankrupt and irate customers with very little tech support. We believe that organisations such as Australia Post or Postal Agents in every town in Australia could act as agents that are not aligned to any Telco to facilitate broadband. This will enable all Telcos to participate on an even footing. We see Australia's vastness as one of the main challenges to the rollout of broadband.
- What steps will you take to improve telecommunications access in rural and regional Australia? Since people in low-income urban areas have been identified by recent studies as those most at risk of becoming a technologically illiterate underclass, what steps will you take to improve their access to technology?
The issues for rural Australia include mobile phone signal drop outs, television and radio signal black spots, the need for local Internet access (both within homes and public access points) and the need for faster dial-up speeds. None of these problems can be solved unless we have sufficient money to spend in this area and spend it appropriately and intelligently. Networking the Nation created a large number of quangos that have low technology and most of the funds have been spent on salaries. We believe One Nation's e-tax proposal, which can be viewed on our Web site. Would provide increased revenue for the government, enabling us to invest appropriately in these critical areas. WE need to ensure that people are not disadvantaged and do not become information poor because they cannot afford to access information technology. One Nation will encourage people to become computer literate by finding more places at TAFE and university and by providing improved IT resources to public schools.
- What will you do to support and promote the uptake of distance education? How will you encourage the everyday use of IT in primary and secondary education?
One Nation believes that we need to encourage Australians to take up educational opportunities, including distance education, which provides flexibility, particularly for people who are working or are living in rural and regional Australia. We believe that the Austudy rate for students should be the equivalent of Newstart Allowance and Austudy should not be means tested according to parental income. We believe the primary and secondary students should have access to adequate IT facilities. With the cuts to public education, many schools are suffering. Labor and Liberal have both promised more funding for years but nothing has improved because there is no money to fund their election promises. One Nation believes its e-tax would provide sufficient revenue in this area and we are asking people to vote in our online poll in this matter. We are the first Australian political party to ask Australian what they want, via our online People Poll.
- Do you support the Australian Broadcasting Authority's regulation of Internet content? Is the cost of the scheme justified given its effect thus far?
One Nation believes that the regulation of Internet content should be reviewed in consultation with industry and government regulators to ensure the most appropriate strategies are adopted. We believe it is extremely difficult to regulate Internet content and that any regulation proposals must have the full support of the industry and take into account concerns regarding civil liberties and freedom of speech.
- What steps will you take to combat the so-called IT brain drain, and to encourage young educated Australians to remain in Australia?
We should ensure that all educators have access to sufficient professional development opportunities. We believe in apprenticeships for information technology to offer opportunities for our young people in this sector. If we can give people jobs here and educate them here we can keep them here. IT professionals are leaving the country because they want jobs, but employers here, running small to medium sized companies can't afford to employ more staff due to high taxes and red tape.
- Do you believe employees' rights are upheld by recently enacted privacy legislation? Will you support a limitation on electronic surveillance in the workplace?
We support a limitation of electronic surveillance in the workforce but we much allow common sense to prevail.
- What will you do to curb the blow out in Australia's ITC trade deficit, which has grown to $17.73 billion -- triple what it was in 1990-91?
Australia is broke. This is the reason that the government is selling our assets, including Telstra. We believe that our e-tax proposal will provide the funds necessary for investment in all areas, including information technology.
- Will you use government procurement to bolster Australian IT companies?
Yes, our preference will always be to provide jobs for Australian workers and support Australian business first. Government departments at local, state and federal level should acquire services from within Australian and from within their local area.
- How do you propose to stimulate ITC R&D in Australia? How will you encourage the availability of post-secondary IT training and education?
We need to create more tertiary education places and encourage Australians to participate in higher education. However, it is no use having a throng of IT savvy people with no jobs to go to. One Nation is committed to providing more funding for research and development through the Bank of Australia, which would offer low interest loans and stimulate the expansion of existing business and the development of new business.
- How will you approach Datacasting legislation given the Government's failed spectrum auction in May 2001?
Datacasting should be available for anyone who wished to set up. The information available to the people of Australia has for too long been biased towards the views of the major broadcasters. By allowing companies to set up datacasting services we will encourage diversity of information therefore allowing the people of Australian to make more informed decisions.
Greens policies underrated.
I think the Greens' policies are very fair, and provide good solutions to providing fair telephone and internet access to all Australians.
Their policies also address the errors made by Richard Alston on censorship and digital broadcasting.
I was disappointed that the Greens weren't listed in your poll.
The Greens have full policy information at
<URL:http://www.greens.org.au/>.