One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has confirmed her party would guarantee supply to a Coalition minority government after the next federal election but would not seek ministerial positions, emphasizing a desire to maintain independence. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Brisbane on Saturday, Senator Hanson reiterated her call for cooperation between One Nation and the Coalition to remove the current Labor government led by Anthony Albanese.
Hanson urged Coalition figures, including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, to set aside personal grievances for what she described as the country’s best interests. She criticized Taylor, a former McKinsey consultant, saying Australians do not want “some smarmy management consultant” to replace Albanese. Despite past conflicts—she noted the Liberal Party had once expelled her and she had faced jail time over convictions later overturned—Hanson said her concern is the future of children and grandchildren, not grudges.
Clarifying her position, Hanson told reporters she had no intention of joining the Coalition cabinet or sitting at the party’s table. Instead, she offered “supply and confidence” to provide the necessary votes to support government formation if needed. “I want to remain fully independent. So, if we do not agree with their policies, that’s it,” she said. She also expressed a hope that if One Nation holds the numbers, the Coalition would allow her party to form government rather than the reverse.
Meanwhile, Angus Taylor declined multiple requests during the conference to clarify whether the Coalition would work with One Nation, with one audience member shouting for him to “answer the question.” Taylor acknowledged past mistakes by Coalition governments but insisted the party is now “unashamedly on the right.” His office stated he left Brisbane early after fulfilling his schedule, providing a keynote speech and an interview with the moderator.
Nationals Leader Matt Canavan dismissed Hanson’s remarks as distractions and urged conservatives to focus on defeating the Labor government “no matter what colour you wear.” He acknowledged existing tensions between coalition partners but stressed the importance of uniting against Labor and the Greens.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price also called for a broad conservative alliance to oust the Albanese government in the 2028 election while recognizing differences among right-leaning factions. “We don’t need to pretend there are no differences – there are,” she said. “But neither should disagreement prevent serious conservatives from recognising where they share a broad set of principles.”
The conference featured a speech from former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who warned that the “modern Left” poses a threat to Western civilization. Outside the venue, protesters from several groups, including the Socialist Alliance, demonstrated against Senator Hanson.
The dynamics between the Coalition and One Nation remain uncertain as the 2028 election approaches. While Hanson positions her party as a potential kingmaker willing to support a minority government without joining it, Taylor’s reluctance to address cooperation with One Nation keeps many questions about the future conservative alignment unanswered.