Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie says he is unfazed by One Nation opening a branch in his West Australian seat of Canning, calling the move \u201cexpected\u201d.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mr Hastie said on Tuesday he was \u201cnot worried\u201d and noted One Nation had opened branches in all of his neighbouring electorates.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who comes in this job has to have a sense of their political mortality, and if this is the end, this is the end,\u201d he told News24.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do your best, and it\u2019s up to the Australian people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re also a democracy, so I don\u2019t have a problem with any political party starting a branch.\u201d<\/p>\n
The special forces veteran has been highly critical of One Nation, declaring last month that he would \u201crather get taken out in a box than bend the knee\u201d to it.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cruling it out\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is one formal Coalition partner and that is the National Party \u2013 it\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d Mr Hastie said.<\/p>\n
He added that he hoped \u201cwe\u2019d receive preferences from One Nation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in the end, I want to form government under Angus Taylor by winning on primary votes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get our primary vote well into the 30s to be within striking distance, and that\u2019s the objective.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She has praised Mr Roberts-Smith, who denies all allegations against him, as a \u201cwar hero\u201d who has her \u201crespect\u201d and admiration.<\/p>\n
The move on Canning is part of One Nation\u2019s broader effort to make good on its pledge to open branches in every federal electorate ahead of the 2028 national vote.<\/p>\n
\u2018Never\u2019<\/p>\n
Earlier, Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said the Liberal Party would \u201cnever\u201d join forces with One Nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever under my watch will there be a coalition between the Liberal Party and One Nation,\u201d she told Nine\u2019s Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not forming a coalition with One Nation. I can guarantee you of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the party \u201chasn\u2019t announced a single policy yet between them\u201d, stating that \u201cOne Nation isn\u2019t the solution\u201d.<\/p>\n
But like Mr Hastie, Senator Hume said she was open to taking preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cPreferences are always a discussion that occur just before an election once we know who the candidates are, once we know what their policies are,\u201d Senator Hume said.<\/p>\n
The comments came after police shielded Senator Hanson and a group of supporters from protesters at a Melbourne pub on Monday night.<\/p>\n
She had hours earlier revealed seven candidates for the upcoming Victorian state election.<\/p>\n
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