Pauline Hanson's One Nation candidate for Farrer Emma Hicks responds to BCB News' big questions, ahead of the May 5 election.

What are the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing our electorate today, and what role do you see yourself playing in addressing them?

Water is the biggest issue for farmers in our electorate. Across the board, the cost of living and health are also key priorities.

One Nation will move to reverse changes made to the Water Act 2007 and the Basin Plan by:  

- Restoring the 1500 GL/year cap on buybacks;  

- Restoring the 320 GL/year recovery target in the northern Basin; and  

- Reinstating the original socio-economic test for the 450 GL/year ‘Water for the Environment Special Account’.

We believe all other forms of water recovery should be exhausted before buybacks, including:  

- Investment in water-efficient distribution infrastructure;  

- Research into precision irrigation and improving soil water-holding capacity; and  

- Utilising other sources such as the South-East Drainage Scheme in SA.

We will also reform water trading by:  

- Restricting foreign ownership of water and water assets;  

- Introducing transparency with a public registry of water ownership and transactions.

Cost of Living and Health

Electricity:  

- Change NEM rules to support cheaper coal and gas-fired baseload power, while planning for nuclear in the medium term.  

- Aim to reduce power bills by 20% immediately.

Fuel:  

- Halve the fuel excise to 26 cents/L for 3 years, with a review after 12 months.

Tax Relief:  

- Allow aged and veteran pensioners to earn more without penalty.  

- Support income splitting and joint tax returns for couples with dependent children.  

- Raise the tax-free threshold to $35,000 for self-funded retirees.

Beer Tax:  

- Remove the excise on beer and spirits in venues.

Healthcare:  

- Increase Medicare rebates to support bulk billing.  

- Crack down on Medicare fraud, estimated to cost $3 billion/year.  

- Offer three-year contracts for new medical professionals in exchange for full HECS-HELP repayment.

Can you give an example of how you have helped others, in the past?

As much as I don’t like to publicise this, I want to answer honestly. I have covered people’s grocery bills when they could not afford it. I’m not saying I could afford it myself, but I had a job I could rely on for income, whereas these people, for the most part, did not.

It’s important to help people when they need it and not turn a blind eye when they are down on their luck.

What is your top priority – the job you will tackle first - if elected?

My top priority is securing water access for our farmers. I’m also committed to securing the funding for a greenfield hospital in Albury — a critical health hub for the wider region.

Describe your own personality and why it would make you the ideal person to form Government.

I am honest and direct. I cannot be bought. I have integrity and a genuine passion to help improve living conditions in Farrer.