Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has declared he will never yield to the influence of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, saying he would “rather get taken out in a box than bend the knee” to them. Hastie made the remarks during a recent Coalition party-room meeting amid growing concern among Liberal MPs about the minor party’s rising support, which has reportedly outpaced both major parties in some polls. The party is currently facing record low primary votes, prompting calls for clearer strategies on how to address One Nation’s increasing influence.
Hastie, a former SAS soldier and the opposition’s industry and sovereign capability spokesman, has been targeted by One Nation and its supporters after providing evidence in the defamation trial of Victoria Cross recipient and alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith. In the party meeting, he emphasized his steadfast opposition to One Nation, expressing a commitment to “do them, and do them slowly.”
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor echoed Hastie’s refusal to submit to One Nation but clarified his approach differs. While Taylor said he will not “bend the knee” to the minor party, he expressed a willingness to cooperate with them and others to oppose Labor’s proposed tax reforms. “We want One Nation to vote against these tax increases. Of course we do … We’ll always work with others to get the right outcomes in the parliament,” Taylor said at a subsequent news conference.
Taylor faced further scrutiny during the same event when he was unable to provide a direct answer on whether the Liberal Party remains committed to multiculturalism. He stated that Australia can welcome people from diverse backgrounds, provided they share “core values” such as parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, and equal respect and dignity for all. Taylor added these principles reflect his lifelong beliefs and those the party will continue to uphold.
Labor leaders reacted strongly to Taylor’s comments. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized what they described as vague or inadequate responses to questions about Australia’s values. Chalmers dismissed the language around “monoculture” promoted by One Nation as a “vague word” and accused Taylor of failing to clearly define or defend basic Australian values. Albanese said the Liberal Party had chosen “irrelevance” by refusing to engage on the government’s capital gains tax changes, which secured support from the Greens to pass parliament.
Albanese also condemned Senator Hanson’s call for Australia to adopt a monoculture, labeling the idea “nonsense” and inconsistent with the country’s diverse history. He referenced Australia’s multicultural heritage since the arrival of the First Fleet, which included people of varied origins and faiths despite ongoing conflicts. The Prime Minister highlighted the nation’s cultural richness, symbolized in sports teams such as the Socceroos, where pride in both ethnicity and Australian identity coexist.
As the Coalition grapples with internal divisions and strategic questions, the party faces a complex challenge balancing opposition to One Nation’s influence while engaging with a shifting parliamentary landscape. The debate underscores broader tensions around national identity, multiculturalism, and political pragmatism ahead of forthcoming elections.