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| One Nation targets Tasmania after Liberals' heavy losses in election One Nation targets Tasmania after Liberals' heavy losses in election | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| One Nation has set its sights on Tasmania as the next political battleground, with plans to register candidates in the next state election. | One Nation has set its sights on Tasmania as the next political battleground, with plans to register candidates in the next state election. |
| A spokesman told Guardian Australia efforts are under way to register a party there, to capitalise on interest in the party since the federal election. | A spokesman told Guardian Australia efforts are under way to register a party there, to capitalise on interest in the party since the federal election. |
| “The party’s been focused on having Western Australia registered first but that seems to be all on track and we should have an announcement on that in January,” a spokesman said. | “The party’s been focused on having Western Australia registered first but that seems to be all on track and we should have an announcement on that in January,” a spokesman said. |
| “You only need 100 members to be able to register the party in Tasmania so we’ll do that. | “You only need 100 members to be able to register the party in Tasmania so we’ll do that. |
| “It’s something that we’ve been asked to do. We’ve looked at what the requirements are there and we certainly meet them.” | “It’s something that we’ve been asked to do. We’ve looked at what the requirements are there and we certainly meet them.” |
| The 2016 federal election saw a record vote for minor party and independent candidates, at the expense of the major parties. | The 2016 federal election saw a record vote for minor party and independent candidates, at the expense of the major parties. |
| The federal Liberal party suffered heavy losses in Tasmania, losing all of its three lower-house seats to Labor candidates in swings of up to 10.13%. | The federal Liberal party suffered heavy losses in Tasmania, losing all of its three lower-house seats to Labor candidates in swings of up to 10.13%. |
| The Liberals managed to retain their four Senate seats, with Labor retaining five senators, the Greens retaining two and Jacqui Lambie getting re-elected on her own ticket. | The Liberals managed to retain their four Senate seats, with Labor retaining five senators, the Greens retaining two and Jacqui Lambie getting re-elected on her own ticket. |
| But, across Australia, One Nation won a record four Senate seats, giving it the largest minor-party voting bloc behind the Greens’ nine Senate spots. | But, across Australia, One Nation won a record four Senate seats, giving it the largest minor-party voting bloc behind the Greens’ nine Senate spots. |
| One Nation’s spokesman said after Tasmania the party also planned to run candidates in the next New South Wales state election. | One Nation’s spokesman said after Tasmania the party also planned to run candidates in the next New South Wales state election. |
| “NSW will have to be part of that mix because I know that the membership already, and those that are contemplating joining the party, have all indicated that we’d be mad not to run candidates,” he said. “People are sick and tired of the two or three major parties that are down there.” | “NSW will have to be part of that mix because I know that the membership already, and those that are contemplating joining the party, have all indicated that we’d be mad not to run candidates,” he said. “People are sick and tired of the two or three major parties that are down there.” |
| On Sunday, Anthony Albanese delivered a speech to the New South Wales Country Labor conference arguing that Labor must try to win the support of voters abandoning the Nationals party. | On Sunday, Anthony Albanese delivered a speech to the New South Wales Country Labor conference arguing that Labor must try to win the support of voters abandoning the Nationals party. |
| He said the Orange byelection – in which the NSW Nationals were smashed by an unprecedented 34% primary vote swing away from the party in the previously safe seat – demonstrated how the Coalition base feels it has been betrayed by its leadership. | He said the Orange byelection – in which the NSW Nationals were smashed by an unprecedented 34% primary vote swing away from the party in the previously safe seat – demonstrated how the Coalition base feels it has been betrayed by its leadership. |
| “We must take the ball up and challenge the Nationals in the bush,” he said. “At a time of economic change and political realignment in Australia and abroad, rural and regional Australia is a place of opportunity for the Australian Labor party.” | “We must take the ball up and challenge the Nationals in the bush,” he said. “At a time of economic change and political realignment in Australia and abroad, rural and regional Australia is a place of opportunity for the Australian Labor party.” |
| Albanese said the debacle over the backpacker tax, which was finally settled in the final day of parliament for the year, showed farmers and regional tourism operators couldn’t rely upon the Nationals to stand up for their interests. | Albanese said the debacle over the backpacker tax, which was finally settled in the final day of parliament for the year, showed farmers and regional tourism operators couldn’t rely upon the Nationals to stand up for their interests. |
| “One thing everyone knows about farmers is that they never throw anything away,” he said. “That must be why the National party is still around. Farmers must be hoping that one day they might serve some useful purpose.” | “One thing everyone knows about farmers is that they never throw anything away,” he said. “That must be why the National party is still around. Farmers must be hoping that one day they might serve some useful purpose.” |