One Nation’s New NSW Leader Says He Wants the State to Look More Like Florida and Texas

One Nation’s newly appointed NSW leader Mike Newman says he wants to reshape New South Wales in the image of Florida and Texas, pushing for fewer business regulations, abandoning renewable energy zones, and embracing coal and nuclear power as part of the state’s future energy mix.

Party leader Pauline Hanson announced Newman’s appointment today, confirming he will lead One Nation into the 2027 NSW state election and contest the Labor‑held seat of Cessnock in the Hunter Valley.

Newman argued NSW should move away from what he described as “California‑style” governance, claiming heavy net‑zero policies had driven more than a million people out of that US state since COVID‑19. He labelled the planned closure of the Eraring coal‑fired power station “economic suicide” and said he would welcome both a nuclear power plant and a nuclear waste facility in the Hunter, subject to community consultation.

“The Labor government run the three‑eyed fish narrative,” Newman said, accusing the government of low‑quality politics. He said his experience working with the nuclear supply chain gave him confidence in its safety and management.

Newman unveiled a suite of policy positions during his visit to the Hunter region, including:

Removing payroll tax for businesses operating in regional NSW

Halving payroll tax for metropolitan businesses

Scrapping NSW’s renewable energy zones (REZ)

He said businesses consistently told him payroll tax discouraged hiring:

“We’d like to hire more people, but we’re sort of playing off against how much payroll tax we may or may not have to pay.”

The announcement signals One Nation’s intention to run a more aggressive, economically conservative campaign in NSW, with Newman positioning himself as a pro‑business, pro‑coal, pro‑nuclear alternative to both major parties.