Time to sack redneck MP

Three days before flying to Jakarta I read a story in The Jakarta Post (May 16, 1997) about Pauline Hanson, the renegade Australian politician who has just recently founded her own political party "One Nation". Imagine my horror when I read that she advocated the spread of semiautomatic weapons to help defend Australia against possible attacks from Asia.

My first reaction was, "Thank god I've got a British passport." Let me assure readers that Pauline Hanson, "the Oxleymoron", does not represent the views of the majority of Australian people. Admittedly a few rednecks have jumped on the bandwagon, but there is a growing and widespread opposition to both the woman and her policies. Naming her new party One Nation is an insult to the Australian people. Her racially founded views and policies only cause division.

What is equally alarming, from an Australian taxpayers point of view, is that while she is gallivanting around the country selling her new party, she is neglecting the people who elected her. She was elected as an independent member for the seat of Oxley, Queensland. She cannot serve her electorate while she is on this personal crusade.

Questions must be asked about her travel funding -- is she using her ministerial privileges while doing business that has nothing to do with her elected position? The Oxley area is predominantly working class. The average worker, who toils nine to five in a factory, is expected to be on the job everyday. Any prolonged absence results in instant dismissal.

What about Ms. Hanson? Surely continued absence from her job also warrants immediate action. Yes, that's right, sack this woman who has tarnished Australia's reputation overseas! The quicker she exits Australian politics the better.

PAUL FRANKS

Queensland, Australia