Pauline Hanson's One Nation has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars to "FIRE THE LIAR!" less than a day after launching the bizarre fundraiser. The right-wing populist party claimed Anthony Albanese had "lied" about the Voice to Parliament, stage 3 tax cuts, the so-called ISIS brides, and energy prices. It also pointed to Mr Albanese's backflip on changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing over which Labor has faced continued pressure since the May budget.
Fundraising Campaign Details
The campaign has raised almost $270,000 as of 10.30am on Wednesday. Contributors were able to choose from either a one-off or a monthly donation of $29, $60, $120, $500, $1000 or $2000. In an email to supporters, the party noted One Nation had proven "we can win lower house seats". "So, it's time to target Labor-held seats," it stated.
Albanese Responds
Addressing the media, Mr Albanese on Wednesday claimed Labor was "now the only party that is in the mainstream of Australian politics that is engaged with serious solutions going forward", having lashed the Coalition over its immigration policy. Mr Albanese sought to downplay the One Nation threat in Labor-held seats. Asked about Labor voters turning to the populist party, Mr Albanese said "assuming that's the case … polls, what they do is they state a view at a period of time, not necessarily when people vote".
"Quite clearly, right around the world, there is some frustration with the system and whether the system is working for people," he said. "That's something that we're very conscious of," he continued, noting it was "not enough to identify an issue". "When people make their assessment of voting, it's up to them to determine what, why they vote, but they'll determine it based upon who is in a position to actually provide solutions for challenges which are always there," he said.
Earlier, Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Melbourne it was "not racist to have a discussion about migration". "It should be one, though, that's based upon fact rather than trying to stir up emotion and to stir up division," he said, noting a surge following Covid.
Bob Katter's Disinterest
Veteran MP Bob Katter has revealed he is "not interested" in finding out more about Senator Hanson despite the looming threat of One Nation clinching seats in central Queensland at the next federal election. Senator Hanson earlier this year inquired about opening a second taxpayer-funded electorate office in Yeppoon, north of Rockhampton, in the Nationals-held seat of Capricornia. Capricornia neighbours the Kennedy electorate, which has been held by Mr Katter for more than three decades.
While Senator Hanson has confirmed she is weighing up a lower house run, there is no indication of which electorate she would choose to contest. But she has confirmed her ambitions to lead the country as prime minister, saying she has the "ability" to do the job. The office of the prime minister is traditionally filled by a member of the House of Representatives who leads the party that has won a majority in the lower house to form government.
But Mr Katter, appearing in a social media video, declined to say whether he would support Senator Hanson taking up the top job. "Oh yes, she's that lady … no disrespect to her but I'm not interested in finding out much about her," he said when asked about the One Nation leader's prime ministerial ambitions.
Electoral Implications
Senator Hanson moving her office to Yeppoon could have set up a lower house contest with incumbent Nationals MP Michelle Landry. But a One Nation spokesperson confirmed to NewsWire last month that Senator Hanson had inquired about an additional office, not to move her office from Brisbane. The spokesperson said Senator Hanson was looking to establish senator offices in regional Australia to improve access and encouraged other senators to do the same. They said the cost to taxpayers would be factored into the decision.
One Nation has edged past Labor to become the most popular political party in Australia according to recent polls. A May Redbridge poll's worst-case scenario shows the Coalition wiped out in Queensland where they would retain zero seats if a federal election were held imminently, with the Nationals wiped out of the lower house entirely. The same modelling shows One Nation would win between 46 to 59 seats.
