Australian news and politics live: Labor react to One Nation poll surge, Hanson’s record defended
LIVE UPDATES: Labor has jumped to defend its record and plan as One Nation surges in the poll and Pauline Hanson reveals plans to become prime minister.
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Max Corstorphan is reporting live.
One Nation hasn’t changed, Australians have: Joyce
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, who defected from the Nationals to join Pauline Hanson, says that the party has not changed, Australians have.
“People are suffering from the cost of living,” Mr Joyce told Sunrise, something he claimed has come from Labor’s environmental laws.
He said Labor was all “talking points” and “no work”.
“The debt, under both governments, keeps going through the rough. We don’t get a sense that either government (Labor or the Coalition) is ready or prepared to protect us.
“It’s not One Nation that has changed, it is the Australian public that has changed.”
Please explain: Labor pressure Hanson to reveal plans
A Redbridge poll has put One Nation as the most popular party in Australia, now ahead of Labor.
Reacting to the major surge, which has followed weeks of a meteoric rise for One Nation, Tanya Plibersek says, “of course”, Labor cares, but is not driven by the latest result.
“Of course, we are interested in polls, but they don’t drive us,” she told Sunrise on Monday morning.
Ms Plibersek said Labor cared about the pressures Australians were under, adding: “We are all about reducing that pressure.”
“Higher wages, lower taxes and a way better health system,” she said, attempting to pitch why Labor was better for Australians.
“If Pauline Hanson wants to be prime minister, it is time for One Nation to start talking about how they would deliver some of these things.
“Just yesterday… Pauline Hanson said Australians are paid too much and should be easier to sack.”
