The Victorian Liberal Party has announced it will preference One Nation ahead of Labor at the upcoming state election, a move that has sparked debate within the party. The decision was confirmed by Liberal leader Jess Wilson, who argued that the strategy is necessary to maximise the Coalition's chances of forming government.
Wilson stated that the preference deal with One Nation is a practical measure to ensure that anti-Labor votes are not wasted. 'In seats where Labor is the main threat, we will direct preferences to One Nation to keep Labor out,' she said. The move comes after the Liberals successfully retained the seat of Nepean in a byelection, where One Nation finished second with 24.7% of the primary vote.
The preference arrangement has drawn criticism from some quarters, with opponents arguing that it legitimises One Nation's policies. However, Wilson defended the decision, emphasising that the Liberals remain committed to their own values and that the deal is purely about electoral strategy. 'This is about winning government, not endorsing other parties,' she said.
Political analysts have noted that the Liberals face a challenging path to victory, needing to win 16 seats to form government. The preference deal with One Nation is seen as an attempt to consolidate the conservative vote, particularly in regional and outer suburban seats where One Nation has support.
The Labor Party has condemned the arrangement, with Premier Jacinta Allan accusing the Liberals of 'selling out' to extremists. The Greens have also criticised the move, calling it a 'dangerous' decision that could embolden far-right politics in Victoria.
Despite the controversy, Wilson remains focused on the November election, insisting that the preference deal is a necessary step to unseat the Labor government. The final preference allocations will be confirmed closer to the election date.
