Liberal Senator Jacinta Price has openly ruled out a switch to One Nation amid ongoing speculation she could jump ship given her conservative-leanings.
The Indigenous MP also ruled out a tilt for the Liberal Party leadership.
Price revealed her stance to the Daily Telegraph about, admitting there was self-reflection about the state of the Liberal-National Coalition.
“There’s definitely a sense of ’she’s done her bit for us, put her out the back',” she told the publication, regarding her lead role in opposing The Voice constitutional change.
Price also pointed out that her party needs to “sort itself out” and lead with conviction, rather than being fearful of criticism from Labor and the Greens.
“We need to stop being fearful of how we might be painted,” she said.
Furthermore, Price called for a firmer stance on issues like net zero, restoring Australian industry, stopping mass migration, deterring communist China, and removing ideology from the school curriculum.
Regarding One Nation, Price said she felt it was a “protest party” and little more than a “trend at the moment” with few solutions.
Questions about her future, along with other conservative-leaning MPs like Matt Canavan and Alex Antic, have circled after the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce’s decision to switch parties.
Hanson Thinks Price Will Struggle to Remain With Liberals
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson said she had not personally spoken to Price about joining her party, and believed the senator would have a challenging time going forward.“No Liberal senator is going to move aside for her [on the Senate ticket] to run in their seat and they‘ll have to find her a safe lower house seat if they want to keep her on. She’s going to be in dire straits, I think she’ll struggle.”
As for criticisms that One Nation does not have strong policy, Hanson said the Coalition had relied on her party for ideas over the years.
Hanson cited the Morrison government’s move to remove the fuel excise temporarily, and allow superannuation to be used for home loan deposits as borrowed policies.
“To say I haven’t got policies when they’re constantly picking up my policies and ideas is ridiculous,” she said.
Hanson didn’t rule out the possibility of working with the Coalition if it meant forcing Labor, the Greens, or Teals out of power or influence.
Cause for Canavan to Leap?
Meanwhile, former federal MP Craig Kelly cited similar Senate ticket challenges for Senator Matt Canavan, noting that based on current polling, the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP) may not secure enough seats for him to remain in office.“Don’t bet on Matt Canavan being re-elected under the LNP banner in QLD,” he wrote on X.
“Under Coalition arrangements for the Senate ticket in Queensland, a Liberal will get No.1 spot and a National (Canavan) number No.2
“And on current polling a likely Senate result from Queensland could be: Labor x 2 seats; Greens x 1 seat; One Nation x 2 seats; and LNP x 1 seat.”
Kelly said Canavan could benefit from joining One Nation instead.
Canavan told The Epoch Times he would continue his work.
“I just keep fighting my hardest for Queensland,“ he said. ”I am happy to let people judge my performance.”
