Belmont candidate handpicked by Pauline Hanson

JULIE Mitchell was headhunted to run for the seat of Belmont by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

The local horse trainer’s introduction to politics came during her former life as a retail doyenne.

As the owner of Windows Boutique in the Perth CBD, she helped bring confidence by power-dressing female politicians to survive in a male dominated industry.

“I’m not a politician myself,” Ms Mitchell said.

“I’m an ordinary, local person, going back into my early 20s I’ve been helping people and supporting them to make opportunities.”

She said she admired Ms Hanson as a small business owner.

“Pauline is passionate about people, it’s not just the money she’s going to get from politics – that’s just to put food on the table – she’s dinky di and says what the average person thinks.”

Ms Mitchell said she agreed with all of One Nation’s policies.

“When I read through them I found myself going, yes, yes, yes,” she said.

She admitted she had not gone through the policies of the major parties but found One Nation’s positive thinking and future planning attractive.

When asked about Ms Hanson’s well-known opposition to immigration Ms Mitchell said, “I do agree we have to monitor (immigration), if so many leave the country, only so many people can come back in.

“We have to work on our resources we’ve got here, our general living,” she said.

However, she refused to comment on Ms Hanson’s statements about Islam.

“I have listened and understood what Ms Hanson was saying but I think enough has been said on all that across the board and I will leave that to her to discuss.”

Ms Mitchell said if elected, her main priority was the racing industry.

“It puts so much back into the racing industry and community; it’s like Lotterywest.”

She said selling the TAB was a bandaid policy.

Ms Mitchell said Belmont residents would benefit from employment opportunities.

“Racing employs 25,000 people from all walks of life, it’s the third largest employer in WA. It doesn’t matter how brainy you are, but for the quick thinkers we have vets, sales, breeders and trainers,” she said.

“It’s a career which can take you world wide.”

Ms Mitchell expressed her sadness that One Nation had dis-endorsed her party colleague, Thornlie candidate Sandy Baraiolo.

“Yes, I think it’s sad, we’ve been through the interviews, been scrutinised already and passed all that – it was such a minor thing so close to the election,” she said.

One Nation WA leader Colin Thincknell told the AAP Ms Baraiolo had not met the standards required to be a One Nation Candidate.

Ms Mitchell said Ms Baraiolo was well-known in her local community of Thornlie, involved with many local groups including neighbourhood watch.

“All that paperwork, door knocking as a candidate and now (she’s an independent) – hold on, I’m now just me.”