Abbott Endorses Preference Deals Between Conservative Parties, Citing Labor-Greens Example

Tony Abbott, the new president of the Liberal Party, has endorsed preference deals with One Nation and said the party would not win the next federal election by being “slaves to focus groups” and just a “little less woke than Labor”. ” He added that he planned to hold meetings with grassroots members across the country.

” He described widespread anger at the current administration and left open the possibility of working with One Nation.

The Liberals directed preferences to One Nation ahead of an independent candidate in the Farrer byelection. The party made similar decisions at this year’s South Australian election and in several seats during the 2025 federal election, departing from the earlier practice under John Howard of rejecting Hanson’s candidates.

Abbott told the Australian Financial Review that conservative parties should follow the example set by Labor and the Greens.

“As a general rule, it makes sense for parties of the right to preference each other just as parties of the left have always done,” he said. The strategy has prompted concern among moderate Liberals who fear closer association with One Nation will complicate efforts to win back metropolitan seats lost to teal independents and Labor.

” He added that if Angus Taylor tried to “out-One Nation One Nation,” voters would increasingly choose what they saw as the original version.

Trade Minister Don Farrell said populist parties rise and fall and that Labor had nothing to fear from One Nation. The latest Newspoll showed One Nation ahead of Labor for the first time and marked the second national poll in consecutive weeks in which Hanson’s party ranked as the most popular in the country.

Abbott’s election as party president and Taylor’s selection as opposition leader mark a shift toward prioritising voters who have moved to One Nation over attempts to regain former heartland seats.