Shadow Assistant Citizenship Minister Dave Sharma dismissed claims that the Coalition needs an alliance with One Nation to return to government [1].
The rejection comes as the Coalition seeks to define its electoral strategy and avoid the perception of desperation. A partnership with a right-wing populist party could alienate moderate voters and signal that the center-right is unable to win a majority on its own.
Sharma said that public speculation regarding a pact with One Nation is counterproductive to the party's goals. He said that such discussions suggest the Coalition is negotiating from a position of weakness [1].
"I think, frankly speaking, it’s harmful to our own prospects to go out there publicly speculating about these sorts of things," Sharma said [1].
The tension follows a shift in the political landscape where One Nation secured its first lower-house seat in the Australian Parliament within the Farrer electorate [3]. This win has increased pressure on the Coalition to address the overlap in their voter bases.
Despite the electoral gain by One Nation, Sharma said that pursuing a formal alliance would ultimately weaken the Coalition's political prospects [1]. He said that the party must focus on its own platform, rather than relying on external partnerships, to regain power.
"It suggests that we’re negotiating from a position of weakness," Sharma said [1].
“"I think, frankly speaking, it’s harmful to our own prospects to go out there publicly speculating about these sorts of things."”
The Coalition's refusal to partner with One Nation reflects a strategic gamble to maintain its appeal to centrist voters. By distancing itself from the populist right, the Coalition is attempting to project strength and stability, even as One Nation's breakthrough in the Farrer electorate suggests a growing appetite for right-wing populism among some segments of the electorate.
