The annual CPAC conference billed itself as a chance for the leaders of Australia's three main conservative parties — the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation — to make their pitch and compete for rightwing voters. But the reception in Brisbane on Saturday suggested Pauline Hanson is now the preferred opposition leader, with Angus Taylor relegated to leading a minor party.
Taylor was the first guest speaker, with his office calling his opening address a keynote, but CPAC had effectively advertised all three leaders as co-headliners. This framing was remarkable given One Nation has only five MPs compared with the Liberal Party as the second-largest bloc in parliament. However, the Guardian reported that Hanson has been filling a void left by Taylor, who has struggled for mainstream cut-through and political oxygen throughout the year.
In her remarks, Hanson repeatedly criticised the Coalition, drawing laughter from the audience, but indicated cooperation would be possible. She said any deal was "up to Angus Taylor". Discussion of how to "unite the right" echoed around the Brisbane convention centre.
Taylor began his address with a mea culpa for past Liberal governments, apologising for his role in immigration increases, pandemic spending and net zero. He admitted his side "made mistakes" but said they were now "unashamedly on the right". His speech included references to "big government", "climate bureaucracy", "NDIS fraud", and at least six mocking references to "socialism".
Taylor is the first sitting Liberal leader to feature at CPAC. While the audience represents an activated, politically engaged conservative base, the Coalition must also win back centrist voters to recover from its poor polling since Sussan Ley's dumping eight months ago.