The Liberal Party’s internal divide over preference deals with One Nation widened on Wednesday as Shadow Minister Andrew Hastie publicly rejected any electoral accommodation with the right-wing populist party. One Nation is currently surging in national opinion polls. The party is frequently matching Labor in primary votes and threatening the conservative Coalition’s base ahead of the next election.
Appearing on the ABC current affairs program 7.30, Hastie detailed an escalating conflict with Pauline Hanson’s party. The member for Canning stated One Nation has “declared war” on him. He confirmed the party launched personal attacks that necessitated immediate security upgrades at his home and electorate office.
The immediate test of this political tension arrives with the upcoming state by-election in Secret Harbour. The district overlaps directly with Hastie’s federal seat. The vote serves as a live test for One Nation’s momentum and the effectiveness of Hastie’s hardline stance, according to reporting on Hastie’s escalating feud over preference strategies.
Hastie’s uncompromising position isolates him from several prominent Liberal figures. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and junior shadow minister Tony Pasin recently signaled an openness to seat-sharing arrangements to consolidate conservative votes. That internal debate remains unresolved amid the broader Liberal Party divide regarding formal electoral alignments.
The animosity stretches beyond immediate electoral math. Hastie is a military veteran. One Nation has strongly supported Ben Roberts-Smith, the Victoria Cross recipient accused of war crimes. Hastie provided evidence against Roberts-Smith in a highly publicized defamation trial, cementing the bitter relationship between the MP and the populist faction. Hastie told host Sarah Ferguson during the 11-minute broadcast that his opposition remains unchanged regardless of the political cost.