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18 February 2001.
AUSTRALIAN  SPIN

 -  QUOTE OF THE DECADE  -

I'm not there to keep the bastards honest.

I'm there to get rid of the bastards.

                    PAULINE HANSON
 

With 8.9 percent of the vote in 4/9 of Queensland seats, Pauline has had a second stunning victory.  (That translates to 20% on a proportional, statewide basis.)  For comparison, the Liberals and Nationals each measured about 14%.   It will be interesting to see whether Ms. Hanson can organize her troops sufficiently to offer a candidate for election in most federal seats in time for the elections.   If SPIN were advising John Howard, SPIN would recommend declaration of elections asap to preempt that likelihood.  Although the Labour Party would probably win, it is obvious that to John Howard a Labour victory would be preferable to a One Nation victory.  And make no mistake.  That is the threat.  A "One Nation" third party in parliament would force a coalition of Labour and the Liberal/National party to form a government.

Nobody admits it, but Pauline should be on bended knees thanking John Howard for his 1999 policy of "Put Pauline Last".

(She might also offer a few prayers of thanks to Murdoch & Fairfax, no help from Packer.)

One thing that is now a possibility is repeal of the GST.  One Nation will offer it, and Kim is likely to feel the stress.  If he does not offer repeal, then One Nation will probably hold the balance of power.

Perhaps politicians believe that voters think that Pauline could not manage the enormously difficult task of managing Australia?

Dream on.  The average Australian does not think that managing Australia is a difficult task.  After all, even idiot politicians can manage.
 

SPIN ARCHIVES.

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