THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Angus Taylor rejects One Nation seat sharing deal as cracks appear in Liberal ranks over Pauline Hanson threat <p>South Australian Liberal Tony Pasin says parties should ‘work hand-in-glove’ to defeat Labor at the next election</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jun/11/australia-news-live-labor-coalition-one-nation-anthony-albanese-pauline-hanson-capital-gains-housing-peptides-arthritis-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Splits are appearing inside the Liberal party about how to deal with Pauline Hanson, after one opposition MP at risk of losing his seat to One Nation said the two conservative parties should cooperate and not run against each other – a plan rejected by Angus Taylor and other senior colleagues.</p><p>With One Nation leading the Coalition and Labor in published opinion polls, Hanson’s threat to target g…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

Angus Taylor is aiming to use parliament's winter break to turn around dire polling for the Liberals with an election-style sales pitch across the country. As MPs prepare to leave Canberra for a five-week break, the opposition is seeking to gain ground on One Nation, which has been outpolling the coalition in recent surveys. The opposition leader is hopeful a cut through will come from a campaign-style blitz across every state and territory, which will include community and business forums in marginal electorates. The coalition ends the first half of the parliamentary year trailing Labor and One Nation on a record low 17 per cent of the primary vote, according to Newspoll, causing some MPs behind the scenes to question Mr Taylor's long-term leadership prospects. Coalition frontbencher Andrew Hastie, who has been touted as a potential future party leader, denied suggestions he could soon be leaving the Liberals. He was prepared to take the fight to One Nation, he said. "I am here to stay and I will recontest the next election. It's as simple as that," Mr Hastie told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday. "I've decided that I need to fight for the Liberal Party, and if I'm gett…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

Liberals fight member exodus as One Nation surges - | Kyabram Free Press National Liberals fight member exodus as One Nation surges Jun 21, 2026 Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is working to stem rising support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation. -AAP Image Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I w…

One Nation popularity surge: Anthony Albanese addresses rise in ... Anthony Albanese has issued a warning to the media about political violence following outcry over the Jacinta Allan “witch” billboards, pleading with voters to stick with his economic agenda as Pauline Hanson told Allan to “suck it up, sweetheart”. The prime minister used the controversy over the billboard, which he labelled sexist, to make a forceful argument to maintain civility and faith in the country’s future as populist anger engulfs the major parties. Acknowledging that economic strain was fostering both anger and populism, Albanese made a pitch for a “patriotic” Australia as he pledged to keep lowering migration in a clear response to Hanson’s party locking in its position as the most popular in Australia. “What I don’t want to do is to have a press conference in this courtyard after a tragedy,” Albanese told reporters on Monday. “There are multiple people, including some still on remand for threats at our level, at my level, at the moment. There was one in court again on Friday, one in court the Friday beforehand.” “Some of the personal ways in which mainstream media, as well, has characterised peopl…

Anthony Albanese has shrugged off polling showing more voters want Pauline Hanson to run the country than him. Thirty-three per cent of respondents to a reputable poll picked the One Nation leader as preferred prime minister, compared to 29 per cent for Mr Albanese. Liberal leader Angus Taylor was favoured by 16 per cent and another 22 per cent were undecided. The Resolve Political Monitor survey, conducted for the Nine newspapers, was the first by the polling outfit to give respondents a choice of three options for preferred prime minister. Mr Albanese acknowledged people were under pressure from the cost of living but suggested the shine might come off One Nation by the next election. "It's easy to identify grievance," he told reporters in the Canberra suburb of Jacka on Monday. "The issue is providing solutions." The survey is the latest in a string of opinion polls showing declining support for the coalition and a surge in people backing One Nation. One Nation's primary vote jumped five points to 29 per cent - meaning almost a third of all voters would put the party first on their ballot paper if an election were held today. Labor trailed slightly on 28 per cent - a on…

The Liberal Party has denied a plan to collude with One Nation to oust Labor from power, as the treasurer accused the right-wing parties of working together to entrench a broken status quo. As alarm grows within the coalition over One Nation's rise in the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected suggestions the party could do a deal with Pauline Hanson to avoid running competing candidates in select seats. With polls showing the combined One Nation, Liberal and National primary vote at almost 50 per cent, such a deal would avoid splitting right-party support and bolster the chance of a Labor defeat at the next federal election. "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that," Mr Taylor told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. "What we will be doing is focusing on a Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, with less houses, with immigration that has not been in line with our housing supply, and with an energy system that is broken.'' Mr Taylor's comments come after The Australian reported Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin urged his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing against each other. Opposi…

The Liberal Party has denied a plan to collude with One Nation to oust Labor from power, as the treasurer accused the right-wing parties of working together to entrench a broken status quo. As alarm grows within the coalition over One Nation's rise in the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected suggestions the party could do a deal with Pauline Hanson to avoid running competing candidates in select seats. With polls showing the combined One Nation, Liberal and National primary vote at almost 50 per cent, such a deal would avoid splitting right-party support and bolster the chance of a Labor defeat at the next federal election. "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that," Mr Taylor told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. "What we will be doing is focusing on a Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, with less houses, with immigration that has not been in line with our housing supply, and with an energy system that is broken.'' Mr Taylor's comments come after The Australian reported Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin urged his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing against each other. Opposi…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

Liberals fight member exodus as One Nation surges | The Canberra Times Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. Loginor signup to continue reading The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ouste…

Liberal MPs will hope a five-week break can give the party a chance to reset with voters as Angus Taylor embarks on a nationwide election-style sales pitch. Parliament has risen for the long winter break, with the coalition trailing in the polls behind the Labor government and One Nation. The opposition leader is hopeful of cutting through with voters during a campaign-style blitz across every state and territory, which will include community and business forums in marginal electorates. The coalition ends the first half of the parliamentary year on a record low 17 per cent of the primary vote, according to Newspoll, causing some MPs behind the scenes to question Mr Taylor's long-term leadership prospects. Coalition frontbencher Andrew Hastie, who has been touted as a potential future party leader, denied suggestions he could soon be leaving the Liberals. He was prepared to take the fight to One Nation, he said. "I am here to stay and I will recontest the next election. It's as simple as that," Mr Hastie told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday. "I've decided that I need to fight for the Liberal Party, and if I'm getting attacked by Pauline Hanson and (her chief of staff) Ja…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

The Liberal Party has denied a plan to collude with One Nation to oust Labor from power, as the treasurer accused the right-wing parties of working together to entrench a broken status quo. As alarm grows within the coalition over One Nation's rise in the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected suggestions the party could do a deal with Pauline Hanson to avoid running competing candidates in select seats. With polls showing the combined One Nation, Liberal and National primary vote at almost 50 per cent, such a deal would avoid splitting right-party support and bolster the chance of a Labor defeat at the next federal election. "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that," Mr Taylor told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. "What we will be doing is focusing on a Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, with less houses, with immigration that has not been in line with our housing supply, and with an energy system that is broken.'' Mr Taylor's comments come after The Australian reported Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin urged his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing against each other. Opposi…

Liberals concede their party has broken faith with voters as a new poll shows more Australians would prefer Pauline Hanson as prime minister than any other political leader. The One Nation leader has now overtaken Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister while the coalition's primary vote has plunged to a record low, according to a Resolve poll published in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age. Thirty-three per cent of voters said they wanted Senator Hanson to lead the country, compared to 29 per cent for Mr Albanese and 22 per cent undecided. Just 16 per cent preferred Opposition Leader Angus Taylor for prime minister. Liberal frontbencher Aaron Violi said voters were unhappy with the coalition after two breakups and a leadership change, but insisted there was plenty of time to reverse its political fortunes. "We know we have broken faith with the Australian people as a Liberal party, as the Nationals, as a coalition. We need to work really hard to win that trust back," he told Nine's Today show on Monday. "We've got two years until the next election - there's a lot to play out." One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said he was "sanguine" about the shifting political momentum a…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…

Remember the pious hand-wringing a few years back as Liberals and their media friends warned that electing community independents meant the end of the two-party system and of order itself? Loginor signup to continue reading Conferences were held, editorials published - anything to alert voters to the recklessness with which they were flirting. Of course, this was always code for fears of a more sectional nature - the historic fracture between a Liberal Party sliding rightwards and therefore away from its most affluent and educated base. Which made it even more puzzling that the party then did so little to reclaim its city supporters, openly disparaging their EVs and wine bars. Strangely, that pearl-clutching over the two-party order is nowhere to be heard in relation to One Nation's rise even though, objectively, Pauline Hanson poses a more structural and open challenge to Australian political norms. Instead, senior Liberals - including Angus Taylor - plan to swap preferences with the wreckers. Others in his party room would go further. They propose a non-compete pact, the effect of which would stop Coalition and One Nation candidates running against each other. Perhaps they…

Danger for the Coalition as Australia's 'MAGA right' mobilises Source: Andrew Hastie As happens from time to time, the Coalition has an identity crisis, with the hard right demanding the Liberals and Nationals shift their policy platform to its position to win elections. Federal elections are won by appealing to voters in what Malcolm Turnbull called the “sensible centre”. At the 2025 federal election, Australian voters woke each morning to the latest news from America – the announcements of spending cuts and sackings by DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) by an administration that promised to Make America Great Again. So committed to the MAGA philosophy was the Peter Dutton-led opposition that one of its shadow ministers, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, added “Make Australia Great Again” to the end of her statements at a media event, with Dutton standing beside her. With that statement – together with a DOGE-like prohibition on women working from home and slurs against Chinese Australians – the Dutton-led opposition, in voters’ minds, had positioned itself as Australia’s MAGA. The election result of “Aussie MAGA” versus a highly organised and disciplined Labor campaign…

The Liberal Party has denied a plan to collude with One Nation to oust Labor from power, as the treasurer accused the right-wing parties of working together to entrench a broken status quo. As alarm grows within the coalition over One Nation's rise in the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected suggestions the party could do a deal with Pauline Hanson to avoid running competing candidates in select seats. With polls showing the combined One Nation, Liberal and National primary vote at almost 50 per cent, such a deal would avoid splitting right-party support and bolster the chance of a Labor defeat at the next federal election. "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that," Mr Taylor told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. "What we will be doing is focusing on a Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, with less houses, with immigration that has not been in line with our housing supply, and with an energy system that is broken.'' Mr Taylor's comments come after The Australian reported Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin urged his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing against each other. Opposi…

'We don't want to be part of coalition with One Nation': Senior Liberal ... ‘We don’t want to be part of coalition with One Nation’: Senior Liberal MP Dan Tehan shuts door on conservative alliance Liberal MP Dan Tehan has said the Coalition does not want to enter an alliance with One Nation, as polling shows nearly half of Coalition voters have shifted support to Pauline Hanson’s party. Oscar Godsell Political Reporter 2 min read July 5, 2026 - 1:00PM The Coalition’s manager of opposition business Dan Tehan has declared the party does not want to be part of an alliance with One Nation. Mr Tehan made the comments during a tense ABC interview on Sunday in which he was pressed on whether he would support a post-election coalition involving One Nation. “What I want to be part of is a Liberal Party and a National Party that, in coalition, runs this country again,” Mr Tehan said. When asked directly whether he would consider any arrangement with One Nation, he said: “It’s a no.” “We are a Coalition – Liberal Party, National Party – and it’s not even being talked about,” Mr Tehan said. “We do not want to be part of a coalition with One Nation. We want to be part of a coalition with the L…

The Liberal Party has denied a plan to collude with One Nation to oust Labor from power, as the treasurer accused the right-wing parties of working together to entrench a broken status quo. As alarm grows within the coalition over One Nation's rise in the polls, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected suggestions the party could do a deal with Pauline Hanson to avoid running competing candidates in select seats. With polls showing the combined One Nation, Liberal and National primary vote at almost 50 per cent, such a deal would avoid splitting right-party support and bolster the chance of a Labor defeat at the next federal election. "No, there's no plan to carve up seats. We won't be doing that," Mr Taylor told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. "What we will be doing is focusing on a Labor government that's taking this country in the wrong direction with higher taxes, with less houses, with immigration that has not been in line with our housing supply, and with an energy system that is broken.'' Mr Taylor's comments come after The Australian reported Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin urged his party to discuss working with One Nation to avoid competing against each other. Opposi…

'Will happen': Victorian Liberals to hold preference negotiations with ... ‘Will happen’: Victorian Liberals to hold preference negotiations with One Nation as Jess Wilson urges voters to shun Pauline Hanson’s party Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has confirmed the Liberals will hold preference negotiations with One Nation despite warning the state "cannot risk" voters backing Pauline Hanson's party at the state election. Patrick Hannaford Digital Reporter 2 min read March 27, 2026 - 1:40PM The Victorian Liberals will attempt to negotiate a preference deal with One Nation despite Opposition Leader Jess Wilson urging voters to shun Pauline Hanson's party. Ms Wilson confirmed preference negotiations “will occur” between the Coalition and One Nation ahead of the state election, though she stressed that only a vote for the Liberals and Nationals would result in a change of government. “Those preference negotiations will occur,” she said. “They occur every single election cycle, and they happen much closer to the election when we know which parties have nominated in which seats, who the candidates are, what the policies are.” Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has confirme…

The major right-wing parties are locked in a race to the bottom, playing on people's grievances while failing to present viable solutions, the prime minister has told the Labor Party faithful. A rebrand of the Liberals was unlikely to win back voters as the problem was their political product, Anthony Albanese said on Sunday. "It is not their sales pitch - it is their policies," Mr Albanese told the NSW Labor conference at the Sydney Town Hall, where he cut his teeth as a young political warrior. "It is not what they call themselves - it is who they are," he said. "It is the race to the bottom that all three right-wing parties are caught up in. "They are the axis of grievance. Each trying to be more anti-fairness, more anti-worker, more anti-aspiration." The comments came just days after Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh said her party needed a rebrand if it wanted to stay relevant. The party and its junior partner the Nationals are battling a migration of voters to right-wing rivals One Nation, which has soared past the coalition in a string of polls. Senior Liberal figure Dan Tehan said the opposition was not entertaining the prospect of a coalition with the Pauline H…

Liberals fight member exodus as One Nation surges - AAP News Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, sa…

Coalition polling: Why the Liberal Party is failing to gain ground ... Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie says multiculturalism has become a “loaded political term” but warned against Pauline Hanson’s brand of monoculture, as the Liberals rebuffed another round of dismal opinion polls by pleading for more time. The future leadership aspirant also said he was unfazed by the Coalition’s continuing decline in opinion polls, as Angus Taylor on Monday insisted repeatedly he needed more time to turn his party’s fortunes around following a series of polling backslides. Twin polls published on Sunday showed the Coalition had failed to capitalise on backlash to Labor’s budget and a stall in One Nation’s momentum. They were taken in the week that followed Hanson’s sprawling National Press Club speech in which she demanded Australia be a monoculture, and Taylor’sstruggle to articulate his own position on multiculturalism. Hanson gave a significantly watered-down definition of the term “monoculture” late last week,insisting the Socceroos were a prime example. Hastie leant further into the criticism of Hanson’s position on Monday. “How do you police that? Do we want government more involve…

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has pledged to democratise the Liberal Party, saying he understands members' frustration as they desert the coalition for One Nation. The party's recently appointed president Tony Abbott, a former Liberal prime minister, has personally phoned members of NSW branches to try to stop them leaving, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Pauline Hanson's party is now the most popular in Australia, leading both Labor and the coalition on primary votes, according to multiple opinion polls. Asked about Mr Abbott's bid to quell members' concerns, Mr Taylor said he understood their sense of frustration. "They want a better Liberal Party and, particularly in NSW, we have seen a number of members of the party frustrated at the lack of democracy in the party," he told Sky News on Sunday. "I've been fighting to change that for many, many years, and I will continue to, and I want those people to stay. "Tony, as president, is doing a great job at getting out and energising the membership, retaining those who are frustrated." Mr Taylor, who successfully ousted Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, said the party had a "credible plan" and would focus on bringing…