Rob Hicks is gearing up to represent One Nation in the race for Leichhardt and says his campaign motto of “A Better Future Begins with Better Representation” reflects his motivation for wanting to represent one of the most geographically diverse electorates in the country. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Dissatisfaction with the interest shown in remote parts of the country by Canberra is driving the candidate hoisting the One Nation flag as the fight for Leichhardt begins to take shape.
Rob Hicks has been announced as Pauline Hanson’s candidate for the 150,000 square kilometre seat and said he was picking up the political boxing gloves in a bid to get southern politicians to take areas like Cape York and the Torres Strait seriously.
“I’m tired of the political state of Australia and, in particular, regional areas,” he said.
“I see One Nation bringing commonsense policies to the table both locally and nationally.
“My goal is to listen to, and work for and with the people of the entire electorate from Cairns to Thursday Island; my catchphrase is ‘A Better Future Begins with Better Representation’.
“My view of the area is that over time, the electorate has been let down by the political parties, particularly the far northern region.”
An avid angler, recreational shooter, tennis player and lover of everything outdoors, Mr Hicks has a connection to Cape York and the Torres Strait through his work in chemical supply sales, and said something needed to be done about easing cost of living pressures and reducing red tape hindering remote business investment.
“We have mining, agriculture, marine, manufacturing and many other enterprises that are suffering the huge cost of living and operational costs in remote areas,” he said.
“There is also too much government interference in a lot of the mentioned businesses that hinder their operations and cause cost blowouts on projects that are economically good for the area and employment – there’s too much red tape.”
With a trade background in sheet metal work and welding, Mr Hicks said improving educational opportunities across the spectrum was also a campaign priority.
“Education is big with me, from prep through to year 12, and after that we need to address TAFE providing the best possible trade training for anyone not academically inclined to go on to university,” he explained.
Four candidates have so far been formally announced to appear on the Leichhardt ballot paper – Mr Hicks, Labor’s Matt Smith, Jeremy Neal for the Liberal National Party and Phillip Musumeci for the Greens.
All are jostling to replace outgoing MP Warren Entsch, who will retire from federal politics after 26 years as soon as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the election.
