A former three-term member of State Parliament and One Nation Queensland leader is running as an independent on the Sunshine Coast in this month’s state elections.
Steve Dickson, who represented Kawana from 2006 to 2009 and Buderim from 2009 to 2017, will stand for the seat of Nicklin on October 26.
In a press release, Mr Dickson said he was running his campaign on zero dollars because that was the reality many Australians were facing today.
“Australians don’t want empty promises anymore – they want someone who’s got their back,” he said.
“This campaign isn’t about fancy billboards; it’s about standing tall for every Aussie who’s been pushed to the brink.
“We don’t have big money driving this campaign – just good, honest people who believe in me and in what we can achieve together.
“They’ve shared their dreams, their challenges and their hopes, trusting that I will fight for them, unapologetically.”
Keep reading Sunshine Coast News in coming days to read Q&A responses from each candidate in all Sunshine Coast electorates.
Mr Dickson was a member of the Liberal Party (which merged to become the LNP in 2008) when he entered state politics in 2006 until January 2017, when he switched to One Nation. He lost his seat in the November 2017 elections to the LNP’s Brent Mickelberg.
He was also a divisional representative on Maroochy Shire Council from 2000 to 2006.
Mr Dickson remained state leader of One Nation until 2019, when he resigned from the party after footage of his behaviour in a US strip club was aired. He was also secretly recorded seeking political donations from the National Rifle Association in 2018.
The Queensland Parliament former members register states Mr Dickson was a business owner and proprietor in a vineyard/winery, horse-drawn carriage service and motel and caravan park.
Mr Dickson’s website says he borrowed $1.1 million when he was 24 years old to buy his own caravan park, and that four generations of his family have served as Queensland councillors.
Mr Dickson posted to social media yesterday, the same day nominations for the election closed, announcing his candidacy.
“I have read all of your messages and heard you loud and clear, so I’ve gone and done it!” he posted.
“Yes, that’s right, I’ve done the unimaginable by sticking my hand (up) for this state election.
“You are all my most powerful support. Of course I would appreciate you all sharing this one to kick it off.”
Mr Dickson said he was running a grassroots campaign driven by those who knew the system had left them behind.
“I’m running in the state election on nothing because that’s the reality for most Queenslanders right now – they’re at ground zero, running on empty,” he said.
“I can’t compete with a cheque book, but I believe people will value that I’m not playing the game.
“I’m fighting to be heard, just like they’re fighting every day to survive.”
Mr Dickson has also released outlined his family land transfers policy, aimed at fixing the housing and rental crisis.
“From my experience in local and state government, I believe there’s a straightforward way to make home ownership more affordable in Queensland. It’s time to revive a policy that was abolished in 2002 to benefit large developers,” he said.
“The family land transfer policy would allow small subdivisions of rural land or rural residential (as small as one acre) to be gifted to family, making home ownership more achievable without the usual high costs. These blocks would require road access, remain in the family for five years, and follow regular approval processes, but without excessive fees. This would help families secure homes and use their land productively.
“As the state election approaches, it’s clear this policy would be a swift response to one of the biggest challenges Queenslanders are facing by playing a crucial role in addressing Queensland’s housing crisis. It is giving more families access to affordable land and a place to call home and a secure future.”
The other candidates for Nicklin are the incumbent Rob Skelton (Labor), Phillip Eschler (Family First), Sue Etheridge (Greens), Rebecca McCosker (One Nation), Marty Hunt (LNP) and Melody Lindsay (Legalise Cannabis Party).
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