Controversial Australian senator hires ex-Trump advisor

A controversial Australian senator has hired a former advisor to US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation Party which holds four seats in the Australian senate, is expected to announce the identity of the former Trump adviser on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The appointment was confirmed by Hanson's chief of staff James Ashby at a community forum in northern Queensland on Friday night.

"Just on the economic things, tomorrow (Saturday) there'll be a front-page announcement, from what I understand," Ashby said when asked about economic policies.

"We have just hired - and they've just landed in the country yesterday (Thursday) - one of the world's leading economists, who has worked for Donald Trump."

"We have just taken him from the Trump camp, so he's come on board with us."

Hanson's hardline anti-Islam and anti-immigration stance has drawn many comparisons to the policies of the controversial businessman-turn-politician.

The senator made front-page news on Wednesday when she used her maiden Senate speech to warn that Australia is "at danger" of being inundated by Muslims.

"We are in danger of being swamped by Muslims who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own," Hanson said.

Hanson reiterated that she would not be backing down from her comments.

The One Nation Party received 4.3 per cent of the national vote in July's Federal election, enough to guarantee two senate seats in Queensland and one each in New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA).

--IANS

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