One Nation has unveiled former NSW trade commissioner Mike Newman as its lead candidate for Cessnock ahead of the 2027 state election, with his campaign launch quickly attracting attention after Pauline Hanson interrupted him while he answered a question in Japanese.
Mr Newman, who has spent the past 25 years living outside NSW, will contest the traditionally Labor held Hunter seat as part of the party’s push into regional communities.
Speaking at a press conference in Singleton, Mr Newman responded in Japanese to a question from an overseas media outlet before Senator Hanson stepped in.
“I think everyone else might appreciate English,” she said.
Mr Newman continued his answer before translating his response into English.
He later rejected suggestions One Nation had a culture of racism, pointing to his Japanese wife and Indian business partners.
“My wife’s Japanese, so if I thought for even a fleeting second that One Nation were racist, all my business partners are Indians who are absolutely patriotic Aussies, I don’t really see that,” he said separately.
Mr Newman said his campaign would focus heavily on business conditions, cost of living, housing and regional investment.
Among the policies he flagged was cutting payroll tax, with a proposal to remove it entirely in regional NSW.
“We’ll be focusing on issues which matter in NSW like the cost of living, our housing crisis and the neglect of our regional communities and rural industries under Labor,” he said.
Mr Newman also argued NSW should look to jurisdictions such as Texas and Florida in the United States when considering ways to attract business investment.
One Nation has also confirmed Hunter coal miner and cattle farmer Stuart Bonds will lead the party’s upper house ticket.
Mr Newman previously served as NSW senior investment commissioner to Japan and Korea after being appointed in 2021.
He left the position before it was later abolished by the Minns Government.
The NSW election is scheduled for 13 March 2027.
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