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Hanson offers to govern with Liberals after branding Taylor a 'smarmy management consultant' at CPAC

One Nation leader promises royal commission into net zero while calling for unity on the right

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources4 outlets
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has offered to set aside her grievances with the Liberal Party to form government after the next federal election, despite blaming the Coalition for her brief jail stint in the early 2000s, in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane where she repeatedly attacked Opposition Leader Angus Taylor as a 'smarmy management consultant'.

Speaking to the faithful at this weekend's CPAC national conference, the first time a sitting Liberal leader addressed the room, Hanson told the audience she was willing to put personal history aside for the sake of the country. 'I know what it means to put personal history aside and turn the other cheek,' she said. 'The Liberal Party threw me out. Then they threw me in jail. My convictions were overturned, but my family went through more than most people will ever, ever know.'

'So yes. I do have reasons to hold a grudge, but I also have children and grandchildren. Their futures and your futures matter more. If I can put personal grievances aside for the sake of this country, others should be able to do the same.'

Hanson also promised to establish a royal commission into net zero. While Taylor was billed as the keynote speaker alongside Nationals leader Matt Canavan, Hanson attracted the warmest responses from the crowd. Her remarks included calling Taylor a 'smarmy management consultant' who was not fit to replace Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Hanson's offer signals a potential post-election coalition between One Nation and the Liberals, reshaping the conservative bloc in federal politics.
  • A royal commission into net zero would escalate climate policy tensions and test the Coalition's position on emissions targets.
  • Hanson's ascendant popularity at CPAC suggests a growing right-wing constituency that could influence the next election outcome.

Background

Pauline Hanson has a long history with the Liberal Party, including being expelled from the party and later facing a jail term in the early 2000s for electoral fraud, convictions that were eventually overturned. The CPAC conference in Brisbane brought together leaders from the conservative spectrum, with Taylor's appearance marking the first time a sitting Liberal leader addressed the event. Hanson's willingness to cooperate despite past grievances reflects the strategic calculations of minor parties seeking influence after elections.

Key Perspectives

[Pauline Hanson / One Nation]: Emphasises putting country ahead of personal grievances while maintaining a combative stance toward the Liberal leadership. Offers conditional cooperation but demands attention to issues like net zero. [Angus Taylor / Liberal Party]: As the target of the attack, faces pressure to respond to Hanson's critique while managing the delicate relationship with a potential coalition partner. The party may need to balance its conservative base with broader electoral appeal. [Critics/Skeptics]: Argue Hanson's offer is self-serving and that a royal commission into net zero would delay climate action. Some see her growing influence as destabilising for mainstream conservative politics.

What to Watch

  • Whether Angus Taylor or other Liberal figures respond publicly to Hanson's characterisation and offer.
  • The positioning of the Nationals, whose leader Matt Canavan was also at the conference, as a potential bridge or competitor.
  • Polling on One Nation support in the lead-up to the next federal election.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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