Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has confirmed the Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation ahead of Labor at the Victorian state election, with how-to-vote cards directing voters to put Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists at the bottom. The decision, announced at a press conference on Tuesday, echoes the Coalition's 2022 position, but the party may preference a One Nation candidate lower if it emerges they hold offensive views.
Wilson said the only way to change the government was to put the Liberals and Nationals first. She said the party was doing due diligence to the best of its ability, with decisions depending on candidates in each electorate.
The Coalition's move comes as One Nation runs candidates in nearly every lower house seat and every upper house region this year. The decision may prove contentious in some metropolitan and culturally diverse electorates where One Nation is unpopular.
A Liberal candidate, speaking anonymously, said they would have preferred a lower preference for One Nation to avoid a backlash from Asian voters in their electorate who dislike Hanson and her party's anti-migrant rhetoric.
Labor Minister Anthony Carbines said the Liberals' call on preferences made clear Wilson would work cooperatively with One Nation in parliament. "They're going to back each other in because they want to back each other in government," he said. Carbines said Labor would put One Nation at the bottom and would likely preference the Greens ahead of the Liberals.
The Age reported in April that the Liberals would preference One Nation ahead of Labor, although final decisions were to be made seat by seat. At the Nepean byelection in May, the Liberals preferenced One Nation third. Labor did not stand a candidate.
How-to-vote card applications are open until noon on November 20; only registered cards may be distributed within 400 metres of voting centres on election day.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The preference decision is central to Labor's attack on the Coalition, framing it as willing to cooperate with One Nation in government.
- It could affect outcomes in culturally diverse electorates where One Nation's message is divisive.
- The strategy consolidates the right-leaning vote to maximise seats, but risks backlash in seats with large Asian-Australian populations.
Background
The Liberals and Nationals have preferenced One Nation ahead of Labor since the 2022 state election. At the Nepean byelection in May, the Liberals gave One Nation the third preference spot. Wilson has ruled out any formal coalition agreement with One Nation.
Key Perspectives
Jess Wilson (Opposition Leader): says the how-to-vote cards will put Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists last, and all other parties above them, with case-by-case exceptions if a candidate holds offensive views.
A Liberal candidate (anonymous): expressed concern that the strategy could cost votes among Asian Australians who find One Nation's rhetoric alienating.
Anthony Carbines (Labor Minister): says the decision shows Wilson would work cooperatively with One Nation in parliament, and that Labor will put One Nation at the bottom of its cards.
What to Watch
- How-to-vote card applications due November 20, any seat-by-seat exceptions.
- Campaign reaction in culturally diverse electorates.
- Final polling on whether the Coalition can win majority government outright.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Liberals have confirmed they will preference One Nation ahead of Labor at the Victorian election.The Age - Latest News: “The Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation ahead of Labor at this month’s state election, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has confirmed”
- SupportedCoalition how-to-vote cards will put Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists at the bottom.The Age - Latest News: “Wilson said the how-to-vote cards for Coalition candidates would instruct voters to put Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists at the bottom of their ballot papers.”
- SupportedWilson announced the decision at a press conference on Tuesday.The Age - Latest News: “At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Wilson said the how-to-vote cards for Coalition candidates would instruct voters to put Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists at the bottom of their ballot papers.”
- SupportedA One Nation candidate could be preferenced lower if it emerged they held offensive views.The Age - Latest News: “a One Nation candidate could be preferenced lower if it emerged they held offensive views”
- SupportedWilson said the only way to change the government was to put the Liberals and Nationals first.The Age - Latest News: ““The only way to change the government is for a number one next to the Liberals and Nationals,” Wilson said.”
- SupportedWilson said the party was doing due diligence to the best of its ability, with decisions depending on candidates in each electorate.The Age - Latest News: ““The party is doing its work at the moment around due diligence to the best of our ability,” she said. “And in those cases, we will make decisions dependent on the candidates within each electorate.””
- SupportedOne Nation is running candidates in nearly every Victorian lower house seat and every upper house region this year.The Age - Latest News: “This year, One Nation is running candidates in nearly every lower house seat in Victoria, and every upper house region.”
- SupportedThe decision may prove contentious in some metropolitan or culturally diverse electorates where One Nation is unpopular.The Age - Latest News: “The decision echoes the Coalition’s position from 2022 and will capitalise on anti-Labor sentiment across much of the state, but may spark a backlash in some metropolitan or culturally diverse electorates where Pauline Hanson’s party is unpopular.”
- SupportedAn anonymous Liberal candidate said they would have preferred a lower preference for One Nation to avoid a backlash from Asian voters who dislike Hanson and her party’s anti-migrant rhetoric.The Age - Latest News: “A Liberal candidate, who requested anonymity to discuss party matters freely, said they would have preferred to preference One Nation lower to avoid backlash from Asian voters in their electorate who dislike Hanson and her party’s anti-migrant rhetoric.”
- SupportedCarbines said the Liberals’ preference decision made clear Wilson would work cooperatively with One Nation in parliament.The Age - Latest News: “Labor Minister Anthony Carbines on Tuesday said the Liberal’s call on preferences made it clear Wilson would work cooperatively with One Nation in parliament.”
- SupportedCarbines said, “They're going to back each other in because they want to back each other in government.”The Age - Latest News: ““They’re going to back each other in because they want to back each other in government,” Carbines said.”
- SupportedLabor will put One Nation last and would likely preference the Greens ahead of the Liberals.The Age - Latest News: “He added Labor would put One Nation at the bottom, “make no mistake about that”, and also that the party would likely preference the Greens ahead of the Liberals.”