Lead

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has categorically ruled out entering any coalition with Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, declaring "I'm ruling it out" and warning that the party's policies would lead Australia to economic ruin.

The comments, reported by ABC News, come amid a surge in support for One Nation and growing questions about whether the Liberals might seek a formal arrangement with the party to reclaim seats from Labor. Mr Taylor was emphatic that the existing coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party would not change.

"There is no plan to form any kind of coalition with One Nation," he told the ABC's 7.30 program.

Mr Taylor said One Nation's policies, if implemented, would be economically disastrous. "One Nation would, as a government, leave us with an eternity of pain," he said. "They have a grab bag of policies, where even just a small subset of them would take this country into a fiscal crisis, higher inflation, higher interest rates, higher mortgage costs."

Coverage comparison

Both ABC News and The Guardian reported the statements from the opposition leadership, but with differing emphasis. ABC News focused on the categorical nature of Mr Taylor's ruling out, quoting him at length on the dangers he attributed to One Nation's agenda. The Guardian placed the same remarks in a broader electoral context, highlighting newly published opinion polling and divisions within conservative ranks.

Both outlets reported that Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan had likewise rejected any coalition with One Nation. "We do not want to be part of a coalition with One Nation," he told the ABC's Insiders program. "We want to be part of a coalition with the Liberal party and the National party."

ABC News also noted that Mr Taylor had earlier ruled out carving up seats with One Nation at the next federal election, while leaving open the possibility of a preference deal.

Key claims

  • Angus Taylor: "I'm ruling it out" any coalition with One Nation; the existing Liberal–National Coalition will not change. (ABC News)
  • Dan Tehan: "We do not want to be part of a coalition with One Nation." (ABC News, The Guardian)
  • One Nation's policies would lead to "an eternity of pain" and a "fiscal crisis." (ABC News)
  • One Nation's primary vote has polled in the high 20s or low 30s, neck-and-neck with Labor; a Guardian Essential poll found Labor on a primary vote of 30%, One Nation on 26%, and the Coalition on 23%. (The Guardian)
  • Tony Abbott has spoken of "mass migration" being pursued to "dilute and eventually to extinguish the Anglo-Celtic core culture and the Judaeo-Christian foundational ethos." (ABC News, The Guardian)
  • Angus Taylor's goal is to remove the Albanese Government from power. (ABC News)
  • Senior opposition figures are split over whether to fight One Nation or seek closer cooperation, with Frontier bencher Andrew Hastie vowing "war" on Hanson's party and junior shadow minister Tony Pasin suggesting a seat-sharing arrangement. (The Guardian)

Perspectives

Angus Taylor – Opposition leader

Mr Taylor has taken a hard line, ruling out any coalition with One Nation and says his priority is defeating the Labor government. According to ABC News, he has described One Nation's policy mix as a direct threat to Australia's economy and says the existing Liberal–National Coalition is the party's only focus.

Dan Tehan – Liberal frontbencher

Mr Tehan put the matter directly: "We do not want to be part of a coalition with One Nation." He has also said the parliamentary party room, not individual members, is for setting immigration policy, which Mr Taylor has tried to tie to a new home-building ratio.

Anthony Albanese – Prime Minister

The Prime Minister, quoted by The Guardian, said the opposition could be turned into an "'axis of grievance" on the conservative side of politics – a description of the Liberal, National and One Nation parties.

Tony Abbott – Liberal Party President

Tony Abbott, who is the current Liberal Party of Australia President, gave a speech in London in which he warned that migrants from other cultures were being welcomed to "dilute" and "extinguish" the "Anglo-Celtic core culture" and the "Judaeo-Christian foundational ethos." He has also backed preference deals with One Nation, according to The Guardian.

Andrew Hastie – Senior opposition figures

The Guardian reports that versions of the incumbent party are divided: Andrew Hastie has vowed "war" on Hanson's party, while junior shadow minister Tony Pasin has suggested a seat-sharing deal, and Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has indicated she would help Hanson campaign in Labor-held seats.