One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has launched a blistering attack on the Coalition, branding Angus Taylor a “smarmy management consultant” while insisting she remains willing to work with the opposition to remove Anthony Albanese’s Labor government.
Hanson made the remarks during a Q&A with former Today presenter Karl Stefanovic at the Conservative Political Action Conference Australia at Brisbane’s Royal International Convention Centre on Saturday.
She questioned whether Taylor was suitable to replace Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, dismissing the Opposition Leader as a “smarmy management consultant”.
“The Liberals signed us up to Paris and Net Zero. The Liberals legislated the safeguard mechanism, and Labor locked the targets into law and made them even worse,” Hanson said, according to ABC News.
“They signed us up to this mess, so why would we trust them to get us out of it?”
Hanson also condemned the Coalition’s creation of the eSafety Commissioner’s office, which she has pledged to abolish on the grounds that it restricts free speech online.
“So when the Liberals stand up here and talk about free speech, ask them one question: ‘Who put Karen in charge?’” she said.
“Then ask yourself if you trust their answer. Only a One Nation government can be trusted to scrap the eSafety Commissioner.”
Pauline Hanson took aim at the Coalition at CPAC Australia, calling Opposition Leader Angus Taylor a “smarmy management consultant”.
Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, wearing a high-vis vest, later reminded Senator Hanson of her pledge to have Taylor removed from his seat. He is pictured with Hanson and Karl Stefanovic.
Angus Taylor rejected the suggestion that he was “splitting the conservative vote” during his appearance.
Despite her criticism of the Coalition, Hanson said she had forgiven the Liberal Party for its past treatment of her and urged voters and politicians to set aside personal disputes for the national interest.
“One Nation will work with the Liberals and Nationals to remove this horrible Labor government and deliver something better,” she said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I know what it means to put personal history aside and turn the other cheek. The Liberal Party threw me out, then they threw me in jail.
“I do have reasons to hold a grudge but I also have children and grandchildren.
“If I can put personal grievances aside for the sake of this country, others should be able to do the same.”
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Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, dressed in a high-vis vest, later reminded Hanson during the Q&A that she had previously vowed to see Taylor defeated in his seat.
After praising high-vis workers as the hardest-working people in the country, Canavan joked about the vest’s colour, referencing One Nation’s preference for orange.
Stefanovic, who said the conference had “rudely interrupted my unemployment” following his termination by Nine in June, hugged both guests as they took the stage before asking when Australian conservatives would “get their s*** together”.
Karl Stefanovic said the event had “rudely interrupted my unemployment”, referring to his termination by Nine in June.
Outside, a loud gathering of rainbow-coloured protesters gathered near the venue and attempted to disrupt the event
Canavan said the parties were in competition but were ‘big enough and ugly enough’ to come together and spoke about the glory days of Australian manufacturing.
‘We need to get back to making things in this country,’ he said, and then said that included babies.
But he added that he and wife Andrea already had five and had done their bit for national productivity.
Interviewing Taylor separately, Stefanovic asked him whether he or Hanson would call the shots if the Liberals and One Nation were required to work together after an election.
‘I know you’re obsessed with this,’ Taylor replied, as the room briefly erupted in jeers, drowning him out.
He denied he was ‘splitting the conservative vote’ after the podcast host pointed to what he described as ‘undeniable support for One Nation’ in the room.
‘I’m splitting nothing. What’s splitting the country is the Labor Government,’ he added.
Notably absent from the event was Taylor’s leadership rival Andrew Hastie, who has vowed never to work with One Nation.
Taylor used his address to promise to scrap Australia’s commitment to Net Zero under the Paris Agreement and reduce migration levels.
He also said he was happy to stand in front of three flags ‘as long as they are all Australian flags’.
Outside, a loud gathering of rainbow-coloured protesters gathered near the venue and attempted to disrupt the event.
