Libs have ‘no plan’ to carve out seats with One Nation
The Liberal Party has no plans to “split seats” with One Nation to oust Labor from power following a surge in support for Pauline Hanson’s party.
As alarm grew within the Coalition about One Nation’s rise at the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor refused to strike a deal with Senator Hanson over seats in which they would have to avoid running rival candidates; this could increase the likelihood of Labor defeat at the next federal election.
“No, there’s no plan to carve up seats. We won’t be doing that,” he told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.
“What we will do is focus on a Labor government that is taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, less housing, immigration out of line with our housing supply and a broken energy system.”
Mr Taylor’s comments came after Australian Liberal Party leader Tony Pasin called on his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing with each other.
Opposition defense spokesman James Paterson also rejected Mr. Pasin’s offer.
“I’m not interested in sharing the spoils with another political party two years before the election and, frankly, tying our wagon to their brand despite all the risks between now and then,” he told ABC radio.
“Who knows what policies One Nation will come up with so far? Who knows what candidates they’ll support?”
“The Liberal Party needs to focus on regaining the trust and support of our lost traditional voters before considering any deal with another party.”
Mr Taylor has previously left the door open to opting for One Nation, but his party remains divided on that option.
In the latest poll, One Nation is Australia’s most popular political party in the country, with the coalition in third place.
Labor portrays the right-wing party as the complainant rather than the solution.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government would “deal with these” by delivering real change for Australians.
“I sat in the Senate and watched over and over as Pauline Hanson voted with the Liberal Party,” he told ABC radio.
“I don’t think the policies he’s putting forward are good for the country and it’s clear to me that he’s working with Angus Taylor and the Liberal Party to support that side of politics.”
