Pauline Hanson shuts gate on ‘opportunist’ Coalition defectors, except for Alex Antic
Updated ,first published
Pauline Hanson has moved to close the door on the possibility of Coalition defectors joining One Nation, warning that “opportunists” who have defected from the Liberal and National parties following the collapse in the opinion polls are not interested.
The One Nation leader said only a handful of Coalition MPs were sufficiently aligned with his party’s values to be accepted into its ranks, despite a recent influx of federal and state conservatives from the Liberals and National Party, including former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.
A large-scale analysis of voter intentions published by Australian Financial Review It showed that if the election were held now, One Nation could win 53 seats, while the Coalition could fall to just 12 seats. Labor would have 76 seats and hold a majority government by a single seat.
The poll predicted the Coalition would be wiped out in the lower house in Queensland and Western Australia.
“There are very few Liberal or National party MPs I could have in One Nation,” Hanson said in this byline. “I’m not interested in opportunists who are afraid of losing their seats. There are too many good people in One Nation who would make great MPs.”
Hanson, who turned 72 on Wednesday, also quashed speculation that he was considering turning over the leadership of One Nation or retiring from politics, saying it would be madness to leave at the peak of his popularity.
The comments came after former Liberal senator Hollie Hughes and former Liberal deputy leader Teena McQueen formally joined One Nation earlier this month, fueling speculation that more conservatives could defect as the Coalition grapples with a bitter internal ideological row.
Hughes, who lost his seat in the Senate in the last election, and McQueen, a long-time power broker in the party’s conservative wing, said they were disappointed with his direction under the Liberals’ moderate wing.
But Hanson’s intervention suggests One Nation is trying to avoid becoming a haven for defeated or displaced conservatives, amid concerns about preserving its outsider identity within the party.
The Queenslander said there was only one Liberal in his ranks he definitely wanted.
“I would [Senator] “I think his views are closely aligned with One Nation’s views – but it’s up to him to make the move,” Alex Antic said in a heartbeat.
Antic appeared to quash rumors that he was leaving the party by announcing this week that he would run for president of the South Australian Liberal division, putting himself forward as part of a conservative revival within the party.
In his message to his supporters, First reported by Guardian AustraliaAntic praised what he described as the federal Liberal “dream team”, which included Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and former prime minister Tony Abbott, who was recently elected leader of the federal Liberal division.
“This is undoubtedly a dream team and has inspired me to announce my candidacy for President of the South Australian Chapter,” said Antic.
The senator urged members to support a return to “the Menzies tradition of freedom and determined opposition to socialism” after the South Australian Liberals were reduced to just five seats in the lower house in the March state election.
She also called on her supporters to take action at the branch’s annual general meetings and support the Liberal Women’s Council to resist a “serious challenge” from moderates within the party.
Antic was contacted for comment.
Hanson, who formed a close alliance with mining magnate Gina Rinehart last year, posted a photo sharing a birthday cake with billionaire businessman Clive Palmer on Wednesday.
It was reported by Sky News Australia last February that Hanson and Palmer were talking about a possible political alliance ahead of the 2025 election.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Palmer offered up to $10 million to fund One Nation and suggested the party be renamed the “Clive and Pauline Party” or “CAP”.
Hanson said Palmer advised on a variety of policy positions, including cost-of-living issues. He said Palmer would not join the party as a candidate.
“If he wants to invest some money [One Nation]”I wouldn’t have any problems,” Hanson said. “I talk to everyone… billionaires, average people, farmers, shopkeepers… everyone.”
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up for our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
Rob Harris is a national correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Canberra. He is a former European correspondent.Connect via email.
