Source : Perth Now news
Angus Taylor has left the door open to a potential alliance in the future with One Nation after Western Australia Liberal leader Basil Zempilas said he was “open” to working with Pauline Hanson’s right-wing populist party.
Asked whether it was appropriate for Liberals to be talking about partnerships with One Nation, Mr Taylor told reporters on Tuesday what was appropriate was “to be winning back the trust of the Australian people”.
“I want Australians’ first preferences, but I know to get it I have to rebuild trust with those hard working Australians who are angry because they have been dudded, and they’ve been dudded by a Prime Minister that told them one thing and did another,” Mr Taylor said.
“The WA Liberal Party will make their own decisions about what they want to do, but we will work, as I said earlier, with whoever we can to get rid of this rotten Labor government.”
Mr Taylor sought to lay blame on Labor’s budget amid a nosedive in popularity for the Coalition, but admitted “people are angry”.
“And, I completely understand why,” he said.
“They are swinging the bat now.
“We have to do better as a party, and I’ve said this many times to rebuild trust with Australians, and we have to lay out our plans every day.”
Mr Taylor said people “want that Australian journey back”.
“It’s disappearing under this government,” he said.
“But, I can tell you what, this Prime Minister has no idea. He has no idea. And, so I can understand why they’re angry.”
The comments come after new Liberal Party president and former prime minister Tony Abbott on Monday backed a potential preference swap with One Nation.
Pauline Hanson’s right-wing populist party has surged past Labor in primary vote for the first time, according to the most recent Newspoll.
The party has also been buoyed by recent victories in South Australia and ex-Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s former seat of Farrer, but have faced questions in recent days over their housing policy, including confusion and backflipping among MPs and senators.
For his part, Mr Taylor has pitched the Liberal Party on lower taxes and addressing housing through a crackdown on immigration.
