Council deputy in One Nation tilt

Shire of Katanning deputy president Craig McKinley and Rod Caddies have been officially unveiled as One Nation’s candidates for the Upper House’s Agricultural Region in the March 11 State election.

Mr McKinley said although Katanning has such a rich multicultural background he hadn’t received any backlash since his candidacy was announced.

“I play a lot of tennis in Katanning with a lot of people from different nationalities and they all have no problems,” he said.

“If they embrace the Australian values we welcome them and that’s in line with what Pauline Hanson’s One Nation’s policy is.”

Mr McKinley and Mr Caddies both fully support One Nation’s policies, including the controversial Islam and halal certification policies.

Speaking about One Nation’s Federal policy on stopping further Muslim immigration, Mr McKinley said he agreed.

“With what is happening around the world and in Australia, and with what happened in Melbourne recently it needs to be reviewed and analysed to make sure we’re getting the right people in.”

When asked about the parties’ stance on halal certification and considering the abattoir in Katanning provides employment to more than 300 locals, Mr Caddies said people should look at why the halal certification is being challenged in the first place.

“If I moved to Katanning now would I be able to fill one of their positions as a slaughterman there,” Mr Caddies said.

“Is there equal opportunity for me to go get a job there as it would be to be a Muslim in the town?

“If you have to be Muslim to carry out halal killing how is that fair and equitable to the other people; it’s sort of reverse racism because things are being put against us in the sense of not having the same opportunity they do to have that same position.”

It should be noted that people of all ethnicities and religions can apply for positions at the Katanning abattoir.

Mr McKinley said there was a screening process when joining One Nation to ensure the parties’ standards were upheld.

“I wouldn’t be involved with a party that was racist,” he said.

“Anyone who tries to join One Nation who has those tendencies are screened out, so I wouldn’t be involved with anything like that and that’s why I have no problems being in Katanning and mixing with the multicultural situation because I know what we stand for.”

Mr Caddies and Mr McKinley are looking to improve regional health, salinity and law and order if elected, as well as a host of other policies which are yet to be released.

Mr Caddies also said the party plans to continue supporting Royalties for Regions, but they do have plans to tweak the program where needed.

“What we’re hearing is that people like that Royalties for Regions was brought in; however, they just feel that the actual idea at the beginning was good but they felt the distribution and what it’s been used on hasn’t been what they expected,” he said.

“One Nation support to continue on with Royalties for Regions and we think it was a great concept that got brought in; however, we agree that it has to be adjusted and worked out to actually be used more wisely and on different projects.”