Over the weekend it was revealed that – shock horror – the Liberals are really bloody scared of One Nation. To the point that the West Australian Liberal Party will preference One Nation over their own coalition partner the Nationals in some seats at the state election
This is pretty significant – it was John Howard‘s decree back in the day that the Libs preference One Nation last on all tickets. This wasn’t necessarily because Johnny hated One Nation’s beliefs. It was more a political decision – and now it’s become far more politically pertinent to embrace Pauline’s motley crew.
Obviously, Nationals leader and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce is not a fan of the move:
It is a statement of fact that the most successful governments in Australia are in Liberal-National government. Colin Barnett has been around the political game a long while and should seriously consider whether he thinks this is a good idea or whether he is flirting with a concept that ultimately will put his own side is in opposition.
And Bill Shorten is also happy to point out the Liberal hypocrisy on the matter, accusing the Libs of “cuddling up” to One Nation.
Arthur Sinodinos, who was Howard’s chief of staff back when the ban on One Nation preference deals was in place, is obviously stuck in a bit of a tough spot over this one. No matter. He’s found a way to wriggle out of it – by saying that One Nation is a much more “sophisticated” party than it was back in the day:
You look at these according to local circumstances, you look at the way these things have evolved. This party has evolved as well. There are a lot of people out there who at the moment are mad as hell, as it were, and it’s going to take some time for policies, I think, to seep through to them and convince them that the way of One Nation is not the way to go.
Trade Minister Steve Ciobo defended the WA Libs deal by claiming that Labor directs preferences to the Greens who are much more extreme, apparently:
This is coming from a guy who actually preferences the Greens – without doubt one of the most, if not the most, extreme political party in modern Australian politics. And yet, here’s Bill Shorten giving us lectures about preference deals.
The establishment right-wing in Australia is really having a set of conniptions right now.
Source: The Guardian.
Photo: Getty Images.
