Commentary
by Scott Balson, Global Web Builders (right)
Commentary
by Scott Balson, Global Web Builders (right)
Here I am in the Park Royal Hotel in Brisbane. It is Friday the 26th June 1998 less than two weeks after the state elections at which eleven One Nation state candidates successfully gained seats in the new Queensland state Parliament.
The weekend ahead will see the candidates meeting in a Parliamentary annex to set out their direction and future.
I sit in the small bar just off the main foyer with a remarkable group of people in the early hours of the evening... the "rag-tag" army that Pauline Hanson's political adviser, David Oldfield, referred to in the days leading up to the election. The group I sat with had earned their stripes.
In the images below we have left to right:
Harry (State MP for Whitsundays) and Veronica Black; John (State MP for Maryborough) and Joy Kingston; Dorothy (State MP for Barambah) and Tony Pratt; Charles Rappolt (State MP for Mulgrave) and Sandra Higgins.
It was an evening of idle chatter and sharing experiences. The MPs were joined by others from the northern parts of Queensland.
Tomorrow the business would begin with speakers including Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen coming to talk to these and the other One Nation state MPs.
Left to right: Ken Turner (State MP for Thuringowa) with Jeff Knuth (State MP for Burdekin); John Kingston (Maryborough) with Dorothy Pratt (Barambah); Ken Turner, David Dalgleish (State MP for Hervey Bay), Jeff Knuth and Harry Black; Sandra Higgins and Joy Kingston.
The agenda for Room R504 in Parliament tomorrow, Saturday 27th June, is as follows:
| 8.15 to 8.30am | House Keeping (Barry Hensler - Electorate Offices) |
| 8.30 to 9.15am | Welcome and introduction by Pauline Hanson |
| 9.15 to 10.15am | Protocols, Portfolios, Parliament and Public Servants (Peter James) |
| 10.15 to 10.45am | Morning tea and press |
| 10.45 to 12 noon | Draft codes of conduct (Heather Hill) and solidarity (Pauline Hanson) |
| 12 to 12.45pm | Lunch |
| 12.45 to 2.45pm | Meet with a Senior Policy Advisor |
| 2.45 to 3.00pm | Afternoon tea |
| 3.00 to 4.00pm | Sir Joh Bjelke Peterson (Guest speaker) |
| 4.00 to 6.00pm | Media presentation - workshops (David Oldfield) |
| 7.15pm | Dinner at the Park Royal hotel |
The weekend:
Some highlights from Saturday - 27th June 1998
The state leader is chosen - Sunday 28th June 1998
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