Tony Abbott backs One Nation preference deal and says Liberals can’t just be a ‘little less woke than Labor’

9 June 2026 at 06:49

Liberals and Nationals grappling with surging support for Pauline Hanson’s party, which threatens to replace them as Australia’s main conservative party

The new Liberal president, Tony Abbott, has backed preference deals with One Nation as he declared the party wouldn’t win the next election by being “slaves to focus groups” and just a “little less woke than Labor”.

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, all but confirmed he was open to such deals with Pauline Hanson, declaring the party was prepared to cooperate with “whoever we can to get rid of this rotten Labor government”.

Andrew Hastie accuses Pauline Hanson of being ‘Maga first’ – as it happened

The Guardian - World news

By: Jordyn Beazley (now) and Nick Visser (earlier)

8 June 2026 at 08:20

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After being diagnosed with brain cancer, Australians got to know Richard as a man of warmth and hope. He faced his disease with optimism, with a smile, and with a deep sense of purpose. Just a few months ago, living with stage four brain cancer, he was still riding his bike through Tasmania, raising money for a cure.