CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
For Beaudesert hairdresser, Kandise Coolwell (55), Pauline Hanson represented a political voice that was often forgotten by the experts in Canberra.
All of the elite politicians, who are all lefties, never listened to people like her – but Pauline did.
Pauline spoke to her anxieties and dreams, the same way Kevin did. The same way Johnny did, for a little while.
But on top of all of that, Pauline said lots of racist things that appealed to Kandise, after a lifetime of having her brain peppered with prejudicial venom through to talkback radio and Murdoch columnists.
In 2016, all she could think about was how one of those Muslims could be waiting around the corner at the shops at Tabragalba. Waiting with a knife.
With bills piling up and a family united plagued by ice, alcohol and pokies – Kandise can’t help but think there are people who Australia owes less to, getting more than her.
In fact she knows this is the case. Because that’s what she reads in the 70% of Australia’s media market that is owned by Rupert Murdoch.
And Pauline was the only one willing to deport every single terrorists – and stop immigration from countries where people don’t look like her.
Kandise knew that if Pauline got enough seats, she would stop Australia from showing compassion and offer refuge to those war-weary women and children who wear terrifying scarves over their faces.
And the Asians and Indians and Africans. All those other types she sees at the servo when has to fill up in Logan.
However, after 9 months of borders closed to non-Australians, and Australians in 3rd world countries – Kandise is yet to see any notable improvements in her day to day life.
In fact, things are just as shit as they’ve always been – and everywhere she looks, she sees big corporations getting bailed out while her own sons can’t find work.
“I’m starting to think that maybe immigrants and refugees aren’t the ones making my life harder”
“I’m starting to think I was pitted against these people, who are basically a lot like me. I think we are both being weaponised as political tools to divide our country and make us easier to push around”
“I think it’s time we take aim at those who are dividing the working class by race and making us turn on each other”
“I think it’s time we bloody fight back against the people doing this to us!”
“These bloody transgenders!”
MORE TO COME.
