Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume has downplayed the threat of One Nation at the next federal and Victoria elections as wealthy donors abandon the Coalition in droves.
Ms Hume rejected claims that One Nation was the biggest election threat to Labor and that the opposition was putting forward a “credible team” at the next federal election.
The Liberal Senator said it was something One Nation “simply cannot do”.
“If Labor want to get out there and box on with One Nation, good luck to them,” she told Sky News First Edition.
“We’re going to be making sure that we’re talking to Australians about what’s important to them.”
It comes as One Nation rakes in huge donations from wealthy businesspeople, particularly Melbourne’s private property developers, who had only donated to the Liberal Party in the past.
A One Nation spokesperson told SkyNews.com.au that all donations were duly reported to Australian Electoral Commission requirements.
“It’s evident some people who may have previously donated to other parties are now donating to One Nation; we welcome their support to help us fight this toxic Labor government,” the spokesperson said.
“One Nation will contest every seat at the Victorian state election with a strong team and good policies.”
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, One Nation’s latest support stems from entrepreneurs tied to small-to-medium sized businesses who are advocating against the Allan government’s controversial property taxes.
The masthead said the major wealthy donors shift away from the Coalition to One Nation was confirmed by five sources familiar with the Liberal Party’s fundraising activities in the state.
Two sources said at least one high-net-worth Melbourne property developed pledged a six-figure sum in the hopes to repeal the vacant property tax.
“I was at a recent event and a property developer secured oral assurances that particular policy settings would be changed if One Nation was in parliament,” one source said.
Ms Hume was asked about the shift in major donor support but refused to concede it was a concern for the Liberal Party in Victoria.
“We’ll be ready to fight the next election in Victoria in November. There’s no doubt about that,” she said.
Senator Hume said Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and her team in a had been campaigning every day across the state.
“My state of Victoria is the ultimate canary in the coalmine for what a bad Labor government can do when it mismanages the economy,” Ms Hume said.
“You don’t need to look too far to see that. Our unemployment rates are higher. Our growth is slower. Our auction clearance rates in the last weekend were down to around 20 percent.
“This is a corrupt, genuinely corrupt, Labor government in Victoria. It has to go and the only alternative is the Coalition and Jess Wilson.
SkyNews.com.au contacted One Nation and Victoria Liberals for comment.
Over the weekend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Australia’s conservative parties of engaging in a “race to the bottom”, branding them the “axis of grievance”.
Mr Albanese’s remarks also come as the latest Sky News / YouGov poll found that Labor has continued to trail One Nation as the most popular political party.
The poll, conducted from June 23-30, showed One Nation on 30 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor on 29 per cent.
The Coalition recorded its worst result since polling began with just 17 per cent of the primary vote, followed by the Greens on 13 per cent.
Despite trailing One Nation on the primary vote, Labor would comfortably retain government, leading the Coalition and One Nation 54-46 on a two-party-preferred basis.