'Got the right values': Swimsuit model part of new look One Nation plan
A swimsuit model looms as Pauline Hanson’s secret weapon to secure the 93 seats she is seeking at the next Queensland election.
While a quick glance at Tamara Candy’s Instagram page may not scream parliamentarian, the 28-year-old is actually a PhD student in politics and used to advise maligned Nationals MP George Christensen.
One Nation’s Queensland director Jim Savage said Ms Hanson’s party had already endorsed 30 candidates in the past two weeks and said Ms Candy would be considered if she stood for pre-selection.
“If she approached us, she'd be thrown in the mix,” Mr Savage said.
“She's obviously got the right values.”
Despite her qualifications, which also includes an honours degree in journalism, the young staffer has faced a string of abusive slurs during her political career, even called a “taxpayer-funded call girl”.
“I don’t fit the general stereotype of someone who’s interested in politics. I’m a true individualist. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum,” she told Newscorp earlier this year.
“I don’t think because of my image I should be considered vapid, or not worthy of engaging in political debate.”
The political figure has come under fire for her sultry social media photos but she said she is aware of the image she sends out, but she’s not going to change who she is to please the masses.
As for her policies, Ms Candy said she is focused on stopping Sharia law being introduced in Australia and campaigning against female genital mutilation.
Mr Savage added that One Nation wanted to pick the right candidates and avoid the 1998 mistake when 11 candidates were elected in the Queensland parliament.
“We will not endorse candidates purely for the sake of filling seats,” he said.
Mr Savage also said that One Nation would promptly scrap the controversial gay and transgender awareness safe schools program, calling it “bloody evil”.
“We want people to keep their hands off our children - at the moment kids are taught if you're normal there's something wrong with you,” he added.
One Nation’s candidate line-up is likely to be announced before Christmas.
