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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Taylor rules out election pact with One Nation as party raises $1.6 million

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Opposition leader Angus Taylor ruled out a non-compete agreement with Pauline Hanson's One Nation party for the next federal election.
  • One Nation's "Fire the Liar" fundraiser reportedly brought in $1.6 million in a single day.
  • Some Liberal MPs had suggested cooperating with One Nation to target Labor-held seats, but this proposal was rejected by party leadership.

Canberra, Australia – Opposition leader Angus Taylor has definitively ruled out any formal non-compete agreement with Pauline Hanson's One Nation party regarding the upcoming federal election. This decision comes despite a significant fundraising success for One Nation, which reportedly raised $1.6 million in a single day through its "Fire the Liar" campaign.

Earlier suggestions from some Liberal frontbenchers, including South Australian MP Tony Pasin, had proposed a strategic alliance, suggesting the Coalition could "work hand in glove" with One Nation to target seats currently held by the Labor government. These proposals gained traction amid polls indicating a potential rise in support for One Nation.

No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that.

— Angus TaylorOpposition leader ruling out a formal agreement with One Nation to divide electoral seats.

However, Taylor firmly rejected the idea of carving up seats, stating, "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that." He emphasized that the Coalition's focus should remain on defeating the Labor government and that all fundraising efforts should be directed towards that goal.

I am not interested in dividing the spoils with another political party two years out from the election and frankly hitching our wagon to their brand, with all the risks that that entails.

— Senator James PatersonRejecting the idea of preference deals with One Nation, citing risks and timing.

Other senior Liberal figures echoed Taylor's stance. Senator James Paterson expressed skepticism about forming any arrangement with One Nation so far in advance of the election, citing uncertainties about the party's future candidates and policies. He stressed the need for the Liberal Party to first regain the trust of its traditional voters.

Senator Bridget McKenzie also deemed any talk of an agreement premature, stating she was unaware of any such discussions. Meanwhile, One Nation's campaign targets Labor ministers, including those in the electorates of Watson and McMahon, aiming to leverage their fundraising success for advertising campaigns focused on issues they claim Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has misrepresented.

I think any talk like that is very, very premature. I'm not aware of any such discussions.

— Bridget McKenzieNationals senator commenting on the premature nature of potential agreements with One Nation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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