The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, has rejected calls from some Liberals to consider a joint election strategy with One Nation, telling Guardian Australia the Coalition will “compete against Labor everywhere”.
Canavan rejected Liberal MP Tony Pasin’s push for a seat-sharing agreement, who told the Australian newspaper the Liberals and One Nation “should work together to identify which seats are more appropriately targeted”. Taylor and other senior Liberals had quickly shut down the idea.
“I am focused on removing this terrible government … We will compete against Labor everywhere to do that. I welcome all parties running. Competition is a good thing,” Canavan said.
But the Queensland senator did welcome Pauline Hanson’s campaign to “fire the liar”, which her party claimed had already raised more than $2m in 48 hours. On Friday morning, the website appeared to be down temporarily – at 2pm it stated it had raised more than $3m.
Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email“I welcome everybody trying to take down this government, because that is the first step. So, good on One Nation for doing this,” Canavan told Sky News.
“They’re saying that that funding, that that now over $2m is going to be used to root out Labor members of parliament, and I’d encourage them on that front, because we have seen Pauline Hanson spent a lot of time campaigning in the seats of Liberal and National members.”
Labor has played down One Nation’s donation claims, and questioned the “independent audit” which Hanson said shows the money is “ridgy didge”. The audit was completed over a few hours, and concluded that the donations were real and received.
Labor’s outgoing federal president and former treasurer, Wayne Swan, called the public fundraiser a “cover-up” of One Nation’s billionaire donors including Gina Rinehart, and doubted the $2m figure.
“We never know whether it’s true, but what we do know is that they are raising a lot of money from high net worth individuals, including going to Mar-a-Lago to raise it with Donald Trump,” Swan told Channel Nine.
“This is a complete smokescreen … It’s a complete farce,” he said.
On Thursday, Hanson also revealed the influence Rinehart on One Nation policy, saying she consults her “friend” and was grateful for the mining magnate’s support.
Guardian Australia has revealed the depths of their close relationship, including the gift of a new private plane, worth more than $1.5m. Before the gift, Hanson and others including Barnaby Joyce had been flown numerous times in Rinehart’s own private jet.
“I consider her a friend and I’m very … grateful for her support. She’s an Australian identity, she’s one of the highest taxpayers in the country,” Hanson told ABC radio in Perth on Thursday night.
“I won’t have anyone have a go because she’s, you know, OK, she’s a billionaire.”
Asked if Rinehart contributes to formulation of One Nation policy, Hanson said she had been “very beneficial”.
“My policy on pensioners being able to work unlimited hours and without losing their pension or healthcare card came from Mrs Rinehart. And I think that’s great. I listen to anyone who brings good policy to me.”
