One Nation’s $2 Million ‘Fire The Liar’ Fundraising Drive Sparks Fears of Right-Wing Resurgence as Pauline Hanson and Tony Abbott’s 30-Year Feud Reignites
- Tony Abbott’s bid to form an alliance with One Nation has sparked a war of words with Pauline Hanson, who claims he’s behind a “witch hunt” that landed her in jail for 11 weeks.
- The Liberal Party president’s overtures to One Nation have been met with skepticism, given his history of trying to destroy the party in the late 1990s.
- One Nation’s “Fire The Liar” fundraising drive has generated $2 million in just two days, fuelling concerns about the party’s growing influence and potential impact on the next federal election.
- Hanson’s chief of staff, James Ashby, has revealed that the fundraising slogan was inspired by former Tony Abbott staffer Peta Credlin, who now works for Sky News.
The bitter feud between Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson has been reignited, with the One Nation leader claiming the Liberal Party president is behind a “witch hunt” that landed her in jail for 11 weeks nearly 30 years ago.
The explosive comments come as Abbott seeks to form an alliance with One Nation, a move that has sparked widespread skepticism given his history of trying to destroy the party in the late 1990s.
Abbott’s bid to form an alliance with One Nation has been met with resistance from within his own party, with some Liberals expressing concerns about the potential consequences of a deal with the right-wing party.
But Abbott remains undeterred, arguing that a split on the right of Australian politics can only benefit the Labor Party.
In a recent interview with the Australian Financial Review, he said that “as a general rule, it makes sense for parties of the right to preference each other just as parties of the left have always done”.
However, Hanson remains unconvinced, telling a crowd in Perth that she’s “like a bloody old elephant, I don’t forget”. The One Nation leader has a long memory, and it’s clear that she hasn’t forgiven Abbott for his past attempts to destroy her party.
In the late 1990s, Abbott was a key player in a campaign to discredit One Nation, which included funding legal challenges to the party’s registration and accusing Hanson of allowing her party to be taken over by a “charismatic psychotic”.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
Abbott’s bid to form an alliance with One Nation has significant implications for Australian politics. If successful, it could pave the way for a right-wing resurgence, with One Nation’s influence growing exponentially.
The party’s “Fire The Liar” fundraising drive has already generated $2 million in just two days, fuelling concerns about the party’s growing influence and potential impact on the next federal election.
Security analysts say that a deal between the Liberals and One Nation could have serious national security implications, particularly if it leads to a shift in the government’s stance on issues like immigration and border control.
Law enforcement insiders warn that One Nation’s influence could also lead to a rise in extremist groups and hate crimes.
Industry observers believe that a deal between the Liberals and One Nation could have significant economic consequences, particularly if it leads to a shift in the government’s stance on issues like trade and industry policy.
The potential for a right-wing resurgence could also have social consequences, with some warning of a rise in xenophobia and racism.
As the Liberal Party works out its plan of attack, One Nation is making money.
The party’s “Fire The Liar” fundraising drive is just the beginning, with Hanson and her team likely to use the funds to fuel their campaign for the next federal election.
But as the feud between Abbott and Hanson continues to simmer, it’s clear that the real winner could be the Labor Party.
The Liberal Party’s decision to elect Abbott as party president has been met with skepticism, with some wondering why the party has tapped its most gifted rhetorician to handle the admin.
But Abbott remains a formidable politician, and his bid to form an alliance with One Nation is just the beginning of a long and complex game of political chess.
