One Nation leader won't 'play in a sandpit with fools'
BUDERIM MP Steve Dickson says he won't "play in a sandpit with fools" as the LNP calls for him to resign, following comments made by One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson.
Senator Hanson told the ABC's Insiders host Barrie Cassidy on Sunday, when asked whether she'd accept Dawson MP George Christensen if he defected, that "if you are elected to Parliament with a party, that's what the people voted you in and you should stay with the party".
The State Opposition, through Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson, seized on Senator Hanson's comments, calling for Mr Dickson - a former LNP minister-turned One Nation state leader - to resign and trigger a by-election, or publicly explain why he "disagrees" with his party leader's comments.
Mr Dickson told the Daily he would not be drawn into "silly games", that he was instead focusing on listening to the people and planning the best way to deliver necessary infrastructure to the regions.
He said he believed the point Senator Hanson was making was in relation to Mr Christensen's position, and the possibility of his defection destabilising the Federal Government.
"(Senator Hanson was making the point) George might want to think about holding the government together," Mr Dickson said.
"I'm very comfortable in my own skin."
Reader poll
Should Steve Dickson resign and face a by-election in the seat of Buderim?
This poll ended on 14 March 2017.
Current Results
Yes. He was elected as an LNP member.
51%
No. He was elected for himself, not his party.
24%
There's an election coming up soon enough.
24%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
Mr Emerson described Mr Dickson's defection as an "act of self-interest" which had now been recognised by Senator Hanson.
"There's one thing Pauline and I do agree on and that is if you are elected for one team, you shouldn't change that team halfway through the game for your own self-interest," he said.
But Mr Dickson questioned why the two major parties had taken so much interest in the activities of One Nation, instead of focusing on their own jobs.
He pointed to the hesitation from both sides of state politics to commit to the Mooloolah River Interchange as just one example of the Sunshine Coast being taken for granted.
"They can talk about me as much as they like," he said.
"If they want to swim in the mud and play stupid games... they can enjoy their swim in the mud, I'm going to stay above that.
"I learnt many, many years ago don't play in a sandpit with fools."
