ANALYSIS
Pauline Hanson woke up, as the kids say, and chose violence.
As 2000 people descended on Brisbane’s Royal International Convention Centre over the weekend for the country’s largest conservative gathering, the plea from organisers was simple — “show respect” to all the speakers.
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), sponsored by the Institute of Public Affairs think tank, was billed as an opportunity for the leaders of the three right-wing parties to come together with the shared purpose of defeating Anthony Albanese.
There was no shortage of Albo-bashing — on the conference floor, “fire the liar” stickers were handed out featuring a crudely AI-generated, Pinocchio-nosed Prime Minister holding a United Nations “global citizen award” in the shape of a large sex toy in one hand, and a bag of cash bearing the words “I don’t give a s**t about Australia” in the other.
An anti-Albo sticker at CPAC Australia. Picture: news.com.au
But it was telling, and perhaps unsurprising, that the only tense moment during the two-day talkfest came during Liberal leader Angus Taylor’s sit-down with podcast host Karl Stefanovic on Saturday morning.
“In any given room over any decision moving forward, it’s you and Pauline — who makes the call? Who’s the boss?” Stefanovic asked.
“I know you’re obsessed with all of this … I’m obsessed with unleashing Australia’s future,” Mr Taylor began.
It was the second or third time Mr Taylor, in perfectly acceptable PR-speak, had deflected a direct question about One Nation to Stay on Message. Some in the crowd had clearly had enough.
Liberal leader Angus Taylor with Karl Stefanovic. Picture: news.com.au
Loud jeers erupted. “What about Pauline?” a woman demanded.
“Answer the question!” several men yelled repeatedly.
Earlier in the morning, the One Nation leader had entered to a rock star reception from the crowd before offering to work with the Coalition to “throw out this wretched and corrupt Labor Government”.
Despite the olive branch, the Senator did not hold back in her attacks on the “uniparty” who “have taken turns running this country into the ground”.
“Australians despise Albanese and his corrupt Labor Government — and quite frankly, they don’t want some smarmy management consultant taking his place,” she said, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
(Speaking to reporters later, Ms Hanson denied she was referring to Mr Taylor.)
The One Nation leader vowed to work with the Coalition to oust Labor. Picture: news.com.au
In his speech, Mr Taylor had studiously avoided even naming the orange elephant in the room, which attendees estimated was up to 50 per cent One Nation supporters.
The conciliatory tone from the Liberal leader stood in stark contrast to the combative Ms Hanson, who grew visibly emotional as she vowed to “put personal history aside and turn the other cheek”.
“The Liberal Party threw me out and then threw me in jail,” she said.
“I do have reasons to hold a grudge but I also have children and grandchildren. Their future matters more. If I can put personal grievances aside others can do the same.”
Mr Taylor, she said, “wants to talk about One Nation is built around one person”. “Angus, look at all the people standing with us — they deserve to be heard.”
A One Nation source told news.com.au the weekend “proved Angus is only a sparring partner helping to prepare Ms Hanson and One Nation for the major fight against Labor”.
“Nice guy, but not a leader,” they said.
“One couple who attended the weekend’s conservative event said he has no aura. He’s not relatable, but who do they replace him with? One Nation is the only party capable of taking on Labor and winning.”
Matt Canavan and Pauline Hanson shared the stage — after Angus. Picture: news.com.au
Nationals leader Matt Canavan, dressed in hi-vis and riffing on the beauty of the box gum and Jarrah timber used in Parliament House, was warmly received by the crowd as he settled into the role of peacemaker, insisting “we’re big and ugly enough to have these debates”.
Mr Canavan acknowledged Ms Hanson’s jabs at his Coalition partner but urged voters not to get “distracted on side quests”.
“We do wear lots of different colours but the one thing we all have to do at the next election is put the Labor Party last,” he said.
“We need to get that simple message out to everyone. Guys, if you want to change the prime minister, the Labor Party has got to be put at the bottom of the ballot.”
After the three leaders made their case, what had been billed as a three-way sit-down with Stefanovic became a one-on-one with Mr Taylor first. It’s understood Mr Taylor refused to share the stage with Ms Hanson, with the decision only communicated to One Nation the night before.
Ms Hanson instead sat down with Mr Canavan, with the pair trading friendly barbs “like an old married couple”, Stefanovic joked, adding, “You two should have been the new Today hosts.”
‘I’m obsessed with unleashing Australia’s future.’ Picture: Tertius Pickard/NewsWire
Senator Hanson declined to weigh in when asked by reporters about the apparent snub. “You have to go and ask Angus Taylor that question, I can’t answer that one, ” she said.
The decision raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle. “It was a bad look,” one Liberal supporter said.
Senator Hanson, flanked by a large security entourage, was mobbed by supporters as she made her way around the conference floor signing autographs and taking selfies.
Mr Taylor was nowhere to be seen.
Eyeing the slow-moving gaggle from afar, an older Liberal supporter warily offered a one-word assessment of the Senator.
“Undecided,” she said. “History shows she can’t be trusted.”
Speaking to reporters after the event, Ms Hanson emphatically ruled out forming a coalition with the Liberals and Nationals but said One Nation would guarantee supply.
In the event the roles were reversed, with a One Nation MP as Prime Minister, Ms Hanson ruled out any ministerial positions for the Coalition.
“I want to maintain the independence,” she said. “My party is One Nation, we are not a coalition with the Liberals and the National Party. We can work together, we can form numbers to get rid of the Albanese Labor Government.”
One Nation’s primary vote overtook the Coalition for the first time ever at the start of the year, and in various polls has been edging close to Labor.
However, Ms Hanson’s overall two party-preferred vote is still not close to forming government in her own right.
Fresh polling on Sunday showed One Nation had lost some support since its mid-year high, down 2 per cent over the past months to 25 per cent, with Labor edging up 1 point to 29 per cent and the Coalition slipping 1 point to 23 per cent.