One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson said Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has drifted toward her party's policy platform following a by-election in southern New South Wales.
The claim suggests a rightward shift in the Liberal Party's approach to migration and border control in response to the electoral performance of right-wing populists.
Hanson pointed to the results of the Farrer by-election, which took place May 9, 2024 [1], as a catalyst for this alignment. She said the shift is particularly evident in the approach to immigration levels.
"Angus Taylor has drifted toward One Nation," Hanson said.
She specifically highlighted the party's stance on limiting the number of people entering the country. Hanson said the current policy direction equates to about 130,000 [2] people coming in, which she said is "spot on" for the number of migrants she believes should be allowed into the country until the nation can "clean up our own back yard" [2].
The political tension follows a period of volatility in the Farrer electorate. Taylor said the decision to place One Nation ahead of an independent candidate was the "least worst option" [3].
This positioning reflects a broader struggle within the Liberal Party to maintain its base while competing with the populist appeal of One Nation. By prioritizing the party over independents, Taylor sought to stabilize the conservative flank, a move Hanson interprets as a validation of her own party's agenda.
“"Angus Taylor has drifted toward One Nation."”
The assertion by Hanson indicates a strategic attempt to claim ideological ownership over the Liberal Party's right wing. If the Liberal Party continues to adopt stricter migration quotas similar to One Nation's 130,000-person limit, it may signal a long-term shift in Australia's mainstream conservative platform to neutralize the electoral threat from populist parties.
