One Nation - the state of play...

[Rorschach]

As much as I have defended ON and Hanson in the past I have also acknowledged the plight of the party and the slow death of the party to the extent that they now are populated by the die hard ignorant.
This just proves what I have said to be true..

This story would be funny, if it wasn't true.

One Nation candidate Stephanie Banister 'doesn't oppose Islam as a country'
* by: SAM CLENCH
* From: news.com.au
* August 08, 2013 12:10PM

PAULINE Hanson's One Nation party has nominated a woman facing criminal charges over alleged anti-Muslim behaviour to contest the Queensland seat of Rankin.

Stephanie Banister, a 27-year-old mother of two, is facing criminal charges after allegedly placing anti-Muslim stickers, like "Halal food funds terrorism", on Nestle products in a supermarket.

Never mind that though. Ms Banister has bigger problems.

In an interview with Channel Seven, which aired last night, Ms Banister revealed her dearth of knowledge on, well, everything.

"I don't oppose Islam as a country, but I do feel that their laws should not be welcome here in Australia," she said, apparently oblivious to the fact that Islam is a religion, not a country.

"Less than two per cent of Australians follow Haram," Ms Banister said, arguing for a ban on Halal food.

The term "Haram" refers to something which is prohibited. It kind of works in this context. If you really think about it. OK not really.

In any case, Ms Banister doesn't have a problem with Jewish Kosher food.

"Jews aren't under Haram, they have their own religion which follows Jesus Christ," she said.

You're thinking of Christianity there, Stephanie.

"They don't have a tax on it, they've just got a certain way of making it where Haram has a tax on the food," Ms Banister said. Except, as Channel Seven pointed out, Kosher food does have a fee.

Ms Banister has some gaps in her knowledge.

Ms Banister was also asked her opinion of the government's National Disability Insurance Scheme.

"I believe that the disability scheme is working at the moment," she said.

The NDIS doesn't actually start until 2016.

Ms Bannister doesn't know who her opponents are either. Rankin, a Queensland seat currently held by retiring Labor MP and former minister Craig Emerson, is being contested by David Lin for the Liberals and Jim Chalmers for Labor.

"I'm still learning all of the names of people in politics," Ms Bannister said.

The Australian Electoral Commission will decide whether Ms Bannister can legally run for office. Candidates are disqualified if they have been convicted of a criminal offence punishable by at least a year in prison, and the One Nation candidate will soon reappear in court.

Ms Bannister admits she still has a lot to learn in politics.

"Everyone in the world has a lot to learn," she said.

Some people more than others.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/fe ... z2bLI7h2Oj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is very very sad... and I don't expect they will replace her after this either.

[mantra]

This is very very sad... and I don't expect they will replace her after this either.

It's not surprising though. Hanson, although admirable in some respects wasn't very stable. Those still hanging in there are probably all extremists. I thought ON was completely dead and buried. There's still life, but not in a good way.

I hope the same doesn't happen to the Greens, but they've climbed a bit in the polls which is a good sign.

[Rorschach]

Yes mantra, not in a good way.

[Jovial_Monk]

That climb in Green support will be very transient—no boats, no drownings.

[Neferti]

That climb in Green support will be very transient—no boats, no drownings.

[Rorschach]

It might have been touch and go for Hanson to get in at the next election until this disaster, but I'd have to say it is go now... as this f-up regardless as to whether it involved her personally or not will tarnish both her and the party even more (if that is possible)... world news? must have been a global slow news day.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/ ... 2rlx4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rorschach]

Well... surprise, surprise...

I suppose the fact it went global finally made them act.
or was it so embarrassing the candidate withdrew herself?

'Islam is a country' candidate quits race
August 10, 2013 - 10:56AM
Ed Jackson
AAP

The One Nation candidate ridiculed after referring to Islam as a country in a television interview has withdrawn from the election campaign.

Stephanie Banister, 27, was running for the seat of Rankin in Queensland but One Nation leader Jim Savage told reporters on Saturday Ms Banister has decided to withdraw following the fallout from her interview with the Seven Network.

During the interview, which Mr Savage says was misrepresentative, Ms Banister referred to Islam as country as well as referring to the Koran as "haram" and saying the national disability insurance scheme was "working at the moment", when it does not begin until 2016.

"She continues to have the full support of the One Nation executive, and contrary to reports on the media last night and in the newspapers today, Stephanie has not been disendorsed and will not be disendorsed," Mr Savage said.

"However, due to the threats against Stephanie's family, herself, her children, the abuse she's copped and the enormous pressure she's been put under, Stephanie has decided she wants to withdraw from the candidacy for the seat of Rankin. We have accepted it with regret." Uh-huh...

Ms Banister had only been in politics for 48 hours at the time of the interview and made a short statement alongside Mr Savage but wasn't allowed to answer any questions on Saturday. Alongside savage, just how dumb is he then?

"With the way Channel Seven edited my interview, I was left quite the fool," Ms Banister said. I don't believe the editing would have changed things much personally.

"I'd like to apologise to One Nation, to my friends and family, for any embarrassment this has brought to them."

Mr Savage said it was his responsibility such a novice candidate had been allowed to conduct an interview without appropriate preparation but also claimed Channel Seven had unfairly targeted Ms Banister. Yes and the quality of personnel left in One Nation leaves much to be desired.

He said it was unclear at this stage if One Nation would nominate a replacement candidate for Rankin with the deadline for nominations on Thursday.

[Rorschach]

Lots of internal conflict between states in what's left of the party.
WA looks like it will not stand candidates.
Hanson has aligned herself with Qld and it is trying to assert itself as the controlling state ... all this happened back in 2001 and so the turmoil and disunity continues, with various factions trying to assert themselves over the party and to control the state branches.

[Jovial_Monk]

I hope On Nation dies a final death this election. Xenophobia and racism don’t belong here.

[Rorschach]

I hope On Nation dies a final death this election. Xenophobia and racism don’t belong here.

Been dead for years Monk... they just don't know it yet.

You BTW are clueless re the membership and the party so stop spewing rubbish like the good o'l Labor flunky you are.
If you were a traditional Labor voter you'd be voting for them.

My local branch was like the UN... people from all over; Argentina, Italy, Germany, Mauritius, New Zealand, Australia, Holland, Phillipines, England... so no not racist or xenophobic.
Their main concerns were; manufacturing, infrastructure, globalisation, multiculturalism, etc.

In fact the concerns of the NSW branches in 2001, in order of concern were...

1/Watering Australia, 2/Multiculturalism, 3/Globalisation, 4/Electoral Reform, 5/Health, 6/Banking, 7/Salinity, 8/Infrastructure Development, 9/Tax Reform, 10/Education, 11/Environment, 12/Defence, 13/Genetically Modified Products, 14/Constitutional Preamble.

So you can roll up your ignorant bigotry with your one eyed political bias and ALP propaganda and post it where the sun don't shine