One Nation leader Pauline Hanson interrupted the party's newly announced candidate, Mike Newman, during his official unveiling when he responded to a question in Japanese.
Newman, who will be the party's lead candidate in the Hunter Valley seat of Cessnock, was addressing reporters in Singleton when he switched languages. Hanson interjected, saying, "I think everyone else might appreciate (English)." Newman then translated his answer into English, discussing how a One Nation government would support Asian investment.
Newman, a former NSW trade commissioner, acknowledged he had not lived in the state for 25 years but declined to answer questions about his move to the Cessnock electorate. He suggested NSW should emulate states like Florida and Texas in the U.S. to foster a competitive economy.
"What we're trying to do is, like Florida and Texas, make NSW so competitive we have companies move here," Newman told reporters. His policy proposals include slashing payroll tax, particularly in regional areas, and focusing on issues such as the cost of living, the housing crisis, and the neglect of regional communities and rural industries.
Despite Hanson's past calls for a "monoculture" and her 1996 parliamentary speech concerning immigration, Newman dismissed suggestions that One Nation harbors racism. "My wife's Japanese, so if I thought for even a fleeting second that (One Nation) were racist ... all my business partners are Indians who are absolutely patriotic Aussies, I don't really see that," he stated separately to News24.
Stuart Bonds, a serial One Nation candidate and coal miner, will lead the party's upper house ticket. Bonds, a 40-year-old cattle farmer from the Hunter region, plans to campaign on issues affecting primary industries.
The state election is scheduled for March 13, 2027.
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison of the Labor party criticized Newman and One Nation's stance on train manufacturing in the Hunter region, questioning Newman's support for local production over overseas sourcing, a position reportedly held by running mate Stuart Bonds.
"They talk a big game about Australian jobs, but when we make the decision to bring those jobs home, their answer is to send the work overseas ... backing Australian workers means actually giving Australian workers the work, it can't just be a slogan," Aitchison said. Newman, who was appointed NSW's senior investment commissioner to Japan and Korea in 2021 by former deputy premier John Barilaro, left that role before the position was abolished by the Minns government. He has a long career in financial services globally.
