Liberal Senator Alex Antic has declared the Coalition must be “realistic” about its future direction as he floated the prospect of a union with One Nation ahead of the next election.
The South Australian Senator – previously rumoured to be weighing a defection to One Nation – said the current Coalition had to be more “realistic” about its election prospects.
He told Sky News Australia he would “absolutely” be open to the idea of an expanded Coalition.
“I don’t see any problem,” he said.
“We have to be realistic about what we can do and, as I said, this is all about saving Australia and saving Australia from this Labor government, which is doing so much damage at the moment.
“So, if that’s the way it plays out... the one thing we don’t want to see is a Labor government back in the lodge for another three years after the next election... that just can’t be sustained.”
Senator Antic's comments came as One Nation continued its rise in the national polls on Monday. Newspoll joined Redbridge and Sky News’ YouGov Pulse in placing the Pauline Hanson-led party first in primary voting intention.
Sky News’ Caroline Marcus put to Senator Antic that One Nation had continued to poach Liberal voters, despite a broader shift to the right from the Coalition. “I think it's a bit of a phenomenon at the moment,” he said.
“As it stands, Angus (Taylor) and Matt (Canavan) are doing a great job, they’re really coming out of the blocks, but you have to be able to get that sold and get that message across and that takes time.
“There is a fair bit of time before the next election, the numbers are worrying... my view is that we need to be heeding the advice of those who’ve said there are policies which we should be tackling that One Nation are tackling and tackling successfully, (policies) which we need to consider and adopt.
“I think that will bear fruit in terms of the polls, and it’ll bear fruit come election time as well, but we’ve got to give Angus and Matt some time.”
Senator Antic was rumoured to be weighing up a defection to One Nation earlier in the year. Following a dismal South Australian election result for the Liberal Party, the Senator said he would not "rule out" joining Senator Hanson.
“I haven’t had a conversation with Pauline about that, I just haven’t. But look, I’m a Liberal, I’ve joined as a Liberal, I have no intention of going anywhere,” he added.
He has also previously called for the Liberal Party to move closer to One Nation. Senator Hanson has previously signalled a willingness to deal with the Coalition to dethrone Labor, but wrote off formal power-sharing partnerships.
On Monday, the Senator argued recent polling meant her party was now the "clear" opposition. Sky News and YouGov’s June 3 Pulse poll had One Nation up on Labor, 29–26. Newspoll gave One Nation – on 31 per cent – a one-point lead over the current government. Roy Morgan’s weekly poll has One Nation level with Labor, while last month’s Resolve poll has One Nation trailing the current government. All polls had the Coalition languishing far behind the two.
Senator Hanson said she was buoyed by the recent results, but was waiting until closer to the election to make any drastic calls. “It’s very encouraging, but as I’ve said, polls come and go and can be like a stock exchange,” she said. “You’re up one day, you’re down the next. I’m not going to make any decisions now at this point, what I’m going to do as far as the party, whether I’m going to stand for the Senate or whether I’ll stand for a lower house seat. Do I want to be opposition leader, do I want to be prime minister? What I’ve said is, I think I have the ability to do it, but anyway.”
