Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie says he is unfazed by One Nation opening a branch in his West Australian seat of Canning, calling the move “expected”.
The minor party has planned to launch the branch in Mandurah, south of Perth, on Saturday in what will be the first non-Labor West Australian seat in its crosshairs.
Mr Hastie said on Tuesday he was “not worried” and noted One Nation had opened branches in all of his neighbouring electorates.
“Everyone who comes in this job has to have a sense of their political mortality, and if this is the end, this is the end,” he told News24.
“You do your best, and it’s up to the Australian people.
“We’re also a democracy, so I don’t have a problem with any political party starting a branch.”
The special forces veteran has been highly critical of One Nation, declaring last month that he would “rather get taken out in a box than bend the knee” to it.
Asked if he was still vehemently against a Coalition-One Nation team up, he took a softer line but again joined Opposition Leader Angus Taylor in “ruling it out”.
“There is one formal Coalition partner and that is the National Party – it’s as simple as that,” Mr Hastie said.
He added that he hoped “we’d receive preferences from One Nation”.
“But in the end, I want to form government under Angus Taylor by winning on primary votes,” he said.
“We need to get our primary vote well into the 30s to be within striking distance, and that’s the objective.”
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has criticised Mr Hastie for deciding to testify in a war-crimes case against Victorian Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.
She has praised Mr Roberts-Smith, who denies all allegations against him, as a “war hero” who has her “respect” and admiration.
The move on Canning is part of One Nation’s broader effort to make good on its pledge to open branches in every federal electorate ahead of the 2028 national vote.
‘Never’
Earlier, Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said the Liberal Party would “never” join forces with One Nation.
“Never under my watch will there be a coalition between the Liberal Party and One Nation,” she told Nine’s Today.
“We are not forming a coalition with One Nation. I can guarantee you of that.”
She said the party “hasn’t announced a single policy yet between them”, stating that “One Nation isn’t the solution”.
But like Mr Hastie, Senator Hume said she was open to taking preferences.
“Preferences are always a discussion that occur just before an election once we know who the candidates are, once we know what their policies are,” Senator Hume said.
The comments came after police shielded Senator Hanson and a group of supporters from protesters at a Melbourne pub on Monday night.
She had hours earlier revealed seven candidates for the upcoming Victorian state election.
Read related topics:One NationPauline Hanson