Australian Minister Open to Coalition with One Nation; Sanctions on West Bank Settlers Announced

Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie has left the door open to a potential future coalition with One Nation following the next federal election, signaling a possible shift in Australian conservative politics. This statement comes as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott reflected on the rise of right-wing "political insurgencies" in Australia and globally.

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In the States, it was, if you like, an in-house insurgency. Donald Trump managed what was effectively a hostile takeover of the Republican Party from within. Our problem in Australia is that the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government was felt by many of its strongest supporters to have been a letdown.

Abbott, speaking at a book launch in Washington DC, suggested that Liberal voters felt "let down" by successive coalition governments, including his own. He drew parallels between Australia's One Nation party and the MAGA movement in the United States, describing the latter as an "in-house insurgency" and a "hostile takeover of the Republican Party from within." Abbott argued that if voters feel consistently let down by their elected representatives, they will eventually seek alternatives.

His comments come at a time when the Liberal Party is undergoing a period of introspection, with Abbott recently returning to political life as the party's new federal president. Both major parties are currently struggling in public opinion polls, while One Nation has seen a surge in support, outperforming both Labor and Liberal parties in recent polls.

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If the people you vote for consistently let you down, you will end up voting for someone else. It's a political marketplace.

In separate news, Australia is set to join Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom in imposing further sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This coordinated action aims to hold "extremist settlers" accountable for what the joint statement describes as "horrific" settler violence against Palestinians. The countries warned that further action would be taken if the Israeli government does not promptly address the situation, urging it to ensure accountability for violence and investigate attacks.

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We continue to urge the government of Israel to take action to ensure meaningful accountability for violence in the West Bank.