Liberal Leader Taylor Denies Seat-Carving Deal with One Nation as Hanson Targets Labor Seats
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has ruled out any arrangement to divide electoral seats with One Nation, after Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin publicly suggested the two parties should cooperate to avoid competing against each other. The proposal, published in The Australian, drew swift rebukes from Taylor and senior Liberal senator James Paterson, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seized on it as evidence of Liberal Party decline. The episode has exposed internal Liberal tensions over how to respond to One Nation's rising poll numbers and a claimed fundraising haul of over $1.8 million in under two days.
Liberal shadow minister Tony Pasin sparked internal controversy by suggesting in The Australian that the Coalition and One Nation should work 'hand-in-glove' to identify which seats each party should target, effectively avoiding competition with one another. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor quickly distanced himself, stating there was 'no plan to carve up seats,' while senior Liberal senator James Paterson called the idea premature and warned of the risks of aligning with One Nation's brand, particularly given Pauline Hanson's own admission that her party branches were being 'infiltrated by extremists.' Political analysts, including Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras, described Pasin's proposal as 'delusional,' arguing it would signal to remaining Liberal voters that the party had abandoned its ambitions. The controversy unfolded as One Nation claimed to have raised more than $1.8 million through its 'Fire the Liar' fundraising campaign, a figure questioned by Prime Minister Albanese, though One Nation's chief of staff James Ashby pledged an independent forensic audit to verify the donations. A separate report noted that Labor's delay to political donation reforms has inadvertently given One Nation an additional six months to receive uncapped donations before a $50,000-per-donor annual cap takes effect, with full disclosure of this financial year's donations not due until early 2027. The broader context includes One Nation leading both the Coalition and Labor in some published polls, former Liberal president Tony Abbott's recent suggestion of preference swaps, and Hanson's ongoing tour of Western Australia targeting Labor-held seats.
What's missing
The actual polling figures showing One Nation ahead of the Coalition and Labor are referenced but not quoted in detail across the sources.
How coverage differed
The Guardian framed the story with greater emphasis on internal Liberal 'cracks' and the structural threat One Nation poses to the Coalition, including detailed background on One Nation's polling strength and Pasin's personal electoral vulnerability. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age focused more on the leadership response and damage control, while the Brisbane Times took a distinct angle on the regulatory and financial dimensions, highlighting how donation reform delays benefit One Nation.
What different sources said
- The AgeCenter
‘No plan’: Taylor shoots down One Nation seat-sharing deal
Angus Taylor rejects One Nation seat sharing deal as cracks appear in Liberal ranks over Pauline Hanson threat
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
One Nation has six more months to raise uncapped political donations
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Gina Rinehart is a friend and adviser, One Nation's Pauline Hanson says
- Brisbane TimesCenter
One Nation has six more months to raise uncapped political donations
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