By Jeremy Sollars
BREAKING: The husband of a current Southern Downs councillor has put up his hand to be the One Nation candidate for Southern Downs at the next State election, the Free Times can reveal.
Mark McNichol – the husband of Cr Marika McNichol – has today confirmed he has “put his hat in the ring” to be Pauline Hanson’s local candidate when the State election is called by ALP Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, which could be a matter of months away.
Mr McNichol, 64, previously stood for One Nation for the Federal seat of Maranoa in the 2001 election against former MP Bruce Scott, where Mr McNichol gained 15 per cent of the vote.
Mr McNichol and his brother Peter have run an earthmoving business based in Stanthorpe since 1970.
He told the Free Times regional voters were extremely dissatisfied with the LNP, citing the recent backpacker tax debacle as a prime example.
“This was a critical issue for Stanthorpe and regional people in general and in the end it was the Greens who solved it, when it should have been the LNP,” Mr McNichol told the Free Times.
Mr McNichol said he believed he would bring strong leadership qualities to the role if elected as the MP for Southern Downs, as well as more than 40 years in business and as an employer.
He said the One Nation candidate selection process was “lengthy” and he expected to be subjected to extensive background checks.
He also said Cr McNichol was “quite excited” about his nomination.
The Free Times has spoken with another local person who confirmed they have also nominated to be the One Nation candidate but they have declined to be publicly identified at this time.
Deputy mayor Jo McNally, Cr Cameron Gow and RAAF officer James Lister are vying for the LNP candidacy for Southern Downs, with the result of a ballot of local LNP party members expected to be released tomorrow, Friday 3 November.
It is understood that the ballot papers have a “no candidate” box and that if more than 50 per cent of local LNP members opt to not select any of the three candidates the pre-selection process will be re-started.
Current Southern Downs MP Lawrence Springborg will retire at the next Queensland election, due in January 2018 but expected to be called earlier, primarily due to the rise in support for One Nation in Queensland the ALP’s current minority government status.
