Pauline Hanson 'hires ex-Trump adviser'
Pauline Hanson has hired a former economic advisor to US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The One Nation leader on Friday night held a free public forum in Rockhampton, where her chief of staff James Ashby revealed the move following a question about the economy, the ABC reported.
Pauline Hanson has hired an economist who used to work for Donald Trump. Photo: AAP
"We have just taken him from the Trump camp, so he's come on board with us, so that's pretty exciting and we need to build credibility on the economics front," Mr Ashby said.
He did not name the advisor but said they had just landed in the country and were "one of the world's leading economists".
Senator Hanson's central Queensland visit followed this week's maiden speech, in which she claimed Australia was being "swamped by Muslims who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own".
The Islamic Society of Central Queensland said it will invite the senator to its open day next month to discuss her views.
Chief of staff James Ashby revealed the move following a question about the economy. Photo: AAP
One Nation party executives have drawn up a battle plan for an early Queensland election, The Australian reported on Saturday.
The state poll is due by 2018.
Buoyed by a membership influx and a $1.6m refund for its strong performance at the July election, the party will reportedly nominate its strongest-performing federal candidates for state seats.
The looming One Nation threat has this week been used by the state Labor government as ammunition against its Liberal National Party (LNP) opposition, which has left the door open to preference deals with Senator Hanson's party.
One Nation party executives have drawn up a battle plan for an early Queensland election. Photo: AAP
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace was among Labor MPs to pressure LNP leader Tim Nicholls to rule out any deal while condemning Senator Hanson's maiden speech.
"Twenty years ago it was Asians and I am sure, given the opportunity, that it would have been the Greeks, the Italians and the Jews earlier on," she said on Thursday.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad labelled Senator Hanson's maiden speech as a "disgraceful hate speech", while Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said her sentiments were "outrageous and, quite frankly, dangerous".
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