The mantra ‘voters always get it right’ is repeated after every election by winners and losers. The decision of voters must be respected, blah, blah.

‘I want my country back. I want to bring back prosperity.’ As we listen to the strains of Pauline Hanson and her calls about how existing parties have ‘run this country into the ground’ following the One Nation win in the Farrer by-election I have to reflect on how her good mate Donald Trump has made America great again (MAGA).

A few weeks ago a trans woman told me she was a big Pauline Hanson supporter. WTF. How can a trans woman feel she is anyway represented, or safe, with One Nation? The same woman who teamed up with Holly Valance to release a parody version of Valances’ previous ‘hit’ (can we even call it that?) that mocks poor people, LGBTQ+ youth, women and the trans community.

While Richmond obsesses over the tussle between three fiery female candidates, in neighbouring Page the Nationals' MP Kevin Hogan is coasting to almost certain victory over his outgunned Greens opponent Luke Robinson and a Labor candidate who's unknown in most of the electorate, Wendy Backhous.

Candidates are getting ready in the marginal federal seat of Richmond for the 2025 live broadcast Richmond Meet the Candidates forum hosted by Echo Publications and Bay FM Community Radio.

Less than a week out from a Richmond Meet the Candidates forum to be held in Byron Bay next Monday, mystery surrounds the One Nation candidate and her connection to the electorate.

Labor candidate Asren Pugh has issued a direct challenge to Ballina Nationals’ candidate and Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy Ben Franklin to rule out doing a preference deal with One Nation in the forthcoming state election.

Like the leaves of a diseased and dying tree, the One Nation senators continue to fall. Two of them, Malcolm Roberts and Rod Culleton, were promptly rubbed out by the High Court.