COMMENT:
One can only conclude that those who represent small and big business want Pauline Hanson to succeed in WA.
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Pauline Hanson on WA issues
Pauline Hanson is in Perth to discuss her views on what's best for Western Australia.
No business would ever say it, and it would never appear in a white paper, but the actions of various business associations has led to Hanson's One Nation getting a platform in WA to become the potential kingmaker and the ultimate decision maker on whether Liberals or Labor form government.
Two of the association groups that represent some of WA's biggest miners, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) and the peak body that represents business in WA, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIWA), have been at war with Brendon Grylls and the Nationals over the proposed five-dollar tax on the big miners digging out WA's iron ore.
![Politics makes strange bedfellows.](/web/20170310062401im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/t/y/q/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtxlga.png/1486351632355.jpg)
The CME particularly has been relentless with their richly-financed advertising campaign, coupled with personal attacks on the Member for Pilbara.Â
The behaviour and messages coming from the CME and, to a lesser degree, the CCIWAÂ suggests they are hoping for a Hanson win.
Any attempt to dislodge or discredit the Nationals is only going to mean that portion of voter support falls into the hands of One Nation.
Grylls' proposal to raise the royalty payments for the big miners has been used by Hanson as an opportunity to hit the state, proclaiming that "WA is in a big mess" – a catchy headline with no real substance, and with no attempt to put forward a solution.
![Pauline Hanson speaking with WAtoday at a cafe in East Perth last month.](/web/20170310062401im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/u/k/n/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtxlga.png/1488510296005.jpg)
It's the exact approach Donald Trump employed during the US election campaign, which marginalised voters responded to in droves.
Pauline Hanson and One Nation were always coming to WA. This public scrap with the Nationals and the CME was all that Hanson needed to get her campaign kick-started and enter the fray as a 'white knight'. Â
It was this weakness, this chink in the armour, that Hanson has honed in on and you can't help but admire her strategy.Â
WA's politicians have been ordinary at best and when you have someone calling out the problems and offering even a glimmer of hope, it's an attractive alternative voting proposition for many.
Who knows what numbers Hanson might poll in the privacy of the voting booth.
The reality is that Hanson and One Nation represent a fair chunk of Australians, most recently as high as 10 per cent in WA - and those are the ones willing to admit they're supporters when polled outside of an election.
Who knows what numbers Hanson might poll in the privacy of the voting booth.
We have to admit, there is a following of her ideology and when media look to dismiss or challenge Hanson and her ideas, the number of Hanson supporters grows.
The best way to kill off One Nation is for the media to ignore the party. This is nigh on impossible as the headlines generated by her are too good for the hungry media beast to dismiss.
Remind you of anyone? That's right, it was exactly what Donald Trump did these last eighteen months.
Any attempt to weaken the Nationals will not play into the hands of Labor or Liberal. The only winner is One Nation.
CCIWA and CMEWA are representatives of WA business big and small, so we should assume the attitude of these associations represents the feeling of their members. We know the CME is running their campaign for BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto but do CCIWA's members really want to see a government in WA decided by Pauline Hanson?Â
I wouldn't have thought so. Do you really think Pauline Hanson, a Senator from Queensland, cares about WA? And do you really think Hanson will stay out of WA matters as she has suggested? Â
It would appear business groups big and small have given her a hand in impacting this coming state election.
Bully boy tactics in the media with this anti-Grylls campaign has just led to the greatest threat WA has seen in its ability to function effectively, both fiscally and its future development.
Nic Hayes is managing director of expert directory Media Stable
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