Nathan’s arms are the first thing you notice about him – they’re covered in tattoos. But don’t let that colour your impression.
“Get to know me before you judge me,” he says.
There are about 50 practising Muslim families in Nathan's hometown of Mackay, Queensland. Asked if he thinks he should get to know Muslims before he judges them, he deflects the question.
“They just walk past you like you're vapour.”
“Is it possible they’re afraid of you?”
His face stiffens; a contortion of genuine puzzlement and slight defensiveness.
“Why would they be afraid of me?”
Nathan is a qualified mechanic, a father of five and part of a shift that is making the major parties nervous – he is a One Nation supporter. A poll earlier this year in Mackay put support for One Nation neck and neck with the Liberal National Party.
Source: SBS
“When was the last politician that can actually honestly say he's lived like an Australian? Going out and actually working for a bloody living; knowing how hard it is to actually put food on the table, pay your bills. It is, at the moment, hard finding a job.”
One Nation’s newfound support has come, in part, from LNP and National Party defectors, much like when Pauline Hanson first won federal office in 1998. But a surprising number of long-time Labor voters, women and young people have been attracted to the party by Hanson’s commitment to traditional ‘Australian values’. And more than 80% of One Nation voters feel that immigration is “extremely important” when deciding which way to vote.
We spoke with some of these new supporters – and asked them, ‘What is it about One Nation that speaks to you.’
Source: SBS
“I think Pauline Hanson's a true Aussie who is not afraid to speak for the Aussie people and say it how it is. She’s the only one really fighting, I reckon, for what needs to be done.”
Source: SBS
“I think she's honest, and I think it’s a good thing. We need honest people, especially in our politicians. The most important thing was she notified everyone about the halal notification. The Easter eggs was something I never knew about and I did avoid Cadbury for that reason.”
Source: SBS
“She's keeping Australia Australia. No overseas here. That’s what we want. No boat people here; they are taking Aussies’ jobs, that’s what they're doing."
Source: SBS
“I’m not racist, but if I see someone in a full whatever – burqa – walking towards me, I walk on the other side of the street. There is no freedom of speech anymore, everyone gets so offended over everything now, and Pauline’s trying to make it so that you can have your freedom of speech again.”
