Australian identity Dick Smith won't be joining Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party - nor will he be contributing any of his millions of dollars towards it at the next state or federal election, but he does back her anti-immigration policy broadly.
"I don't agree with her ban on Muslim immigration but I strongly agree that we need to have an immigration number that means we can stabilise our population," Mr Smith said.
What is understood is Dick Smith will work with Pauline Hanson to develop an aviation policy.
"For over 20 years the major parties have ignored general aviation, especially the flight training industry. I predict in 10 years Qantas will have to get its pilots from China or North America because we're not training enough."
The entrepreneur spoke to SBS to correct some of the "exaggerated" reports which surfaced on Tuesday.
"I read in the paper that I'm going to be involved in Western Sydney and so forth. I have no intention of being involved there," Mr Smith said.
The advocate of Australian-made products said while Senator Hanson had the "Trump factor", and her popularity will continue to rise, he won't be running for her in any election.
"I don't agree with some of the major policies, but she says it as she believes it and that's refreshing," the 72-year-old said.
He added that he would not be funding One Nation either directly or indirectly.
"I donate my money to charity, to people who are worse off and I have no plans to change that at all," Mr Smith said.
"Our politicians have become actors and are sort of scripting on a stage and we've all got fed up with that."
"I could never see myself as a One Nation senator."
Mr Smith said he praised Senator Hanson's views on immigration because Australia's population is growing too quickly.
"The way we're going it's not so much immigrants who are not going to have jobs our own kids are not going to have jobs," he said.
"With robotics and automation the last thing you need is a growing population."
However, Henry Sherrell, a Research Officer at the Development Policy Centre at ANU, said the number of net migrants has actually dropped over the past three years.
"This is a major strength of Australia’s immigration policy framework as it responds in real time to the economy," Mr Sherrell said.
The researcher said the key to correct policy is to make sure that infrastructure and public services keep track with population growth.
"Federal and state governments do appear to be learning from some of the failures from the mid-2000s on this front," he said.
"But instead of just blaming migration, a host of policies with more capacity to improve liveability should be looked at, such as urban planning, climate pricing and negative gearing.”
Pauline Hanson says the reason Dick Smith has decided to give One Nation a hand is that like many Australians, he decided to listen to her ideas and look at her policies.
"I think with people like Dick Smith and others, high profile people, if they come out and support me we can then move ahead and hopefully pull this country together," Senator Hanson told 2GB radio.
