The fragile state of Australian politics has been laid bare as senior Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan dismissed any prospect of a formal coalition with Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, despite the growing influence of the far-right party in recent polls.
The comments come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly derided the Liberal, National, and One Nation parties, labelling them an "axis of grievance" and highlighting internal divisions on the conservative side of politics. While Mr Tehan insists a formal alliance is not under discussion, a clear split is emerging within the Liberal and National parties regarding their strategy towards One Nation.
Recent opinion polls have illustrated a significant challenge for the traditional Liberal-National Coalition, with One Nation's primary vote reaching the high 20s or low 30s, placing it neck-and-neck with the governing Labor party. For example, a recent Guardian Essential poll showed Labor on 30%, One Nation on 26%, and the Coalition on 23%. Polling experts suggest this fragmentation of the conservative vote could make it exceedingly difficult for the Liberal and National parties to form government independently in the future, particularly if One Nation gains a substantial number of seats at the next election.
The debate is further complicated by the recent comments of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who made contentious remarks in London regarding "mass migration," suggesting it was being pursued to dilute Australia's Anglo-Celtic core culture and Judaeo-Christian foundational ethos. While Mr Tehan sought to distance the party from these comments, they have been widely criticised by Liberal moderates.
For British readers, this internal Australian debate has significant implications for UK-Australia relations. As both countries navigate shifting global politics and economic trends, any fragmentation of the conservative vote in Australia could have far-reaching consequences for their bilateral relationship, including potential trade and security agreements.