Former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, set to lead its legislative council ticket in the upcoming South Australian election in March. Hanson confirmed the news late Monday, following speculation that Bernardi, who left the federal Senate in 2020, would be the latest former Coalition member to defect.
Hanson praised Bernardi's conservative values, stating he is an excellent fit for One Nation and keen to make positive changes in his home state that the Liberals cannot achieve. Bernardi, who served under Liberal leaders Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott before founding the Australian Conservatives in 2017, will hold a joint press conference with Hanson in Adelaide on Tuesday.
One Nation plans to contest all lower-house seats in the SA election, testing whether the party can convert Hanson's national popularity into state-level seats. Opinion polls suggest the Labor government, led by Peter Malinauskas, is likely to retain power, with the Liberal opposition facing a heavy defeat.
Bernardi criticised the major parties for letting down ordinary South Australians, citing flat wages, rising costs, and unsafe communities. He pledged to reduce spending, taxes, and debt, while voicing concerns about excessive regulation and environmental policies, though he did not provide specific policy details.
One Nation has teased further high-profile additions this week, with chief of staff James Ashby claiming the announcements would 'shock the nation'. Speculation that Liberal senator Alex Antic might defect was dismissed, as Antic assured colleagues he would remain with the Liberals.
Bernardi, known for his conservative stances against abortion and same-sex marriage, resigned as parliamentary secretary to Tony Abbott in 2012 after linking same-sex marriage to bestiality. He left the Senate in 2020 and hosted a Sky News podcast until 2023.
