Labor rejects voter trust crisis claims as One Nation anti-Albanese ad campaign hits State of Origin

A multimillion-dollar anti-Albanese ad campaign will air during State of Origin on Wednesday, but Labor insists Australians are more concerned about paying bills than political mudslinging.

One Nation will launch a television advertisement titled Fire the Liar during Wednesday night’s blockbuster rugby league clash after a fundraising campaign reportedly raised more than $4 million.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: One Nation’s ‘Fire the Liar’ ad targets Albanese

The ad features a montage of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s past statements, including his pledge to reduce power prices by $275, policy reversals and the declaration that “my word is my bond”.

Environment Minister Murray Watt dismissed the campaign on Sunrise on Wednesday, accusing One Nation of prioritising political attacks over policies designed to help Australians struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

“I think the bottom line is that Australians can rely on our government to be doing everything we can to support them with their cost of living pressures,” Watt said.

He pointed to upcoming tax cuts and government support measures, while criticising One Nation for opposing government initiatives.

“We’ll let the others sling mud if that’s what they want to do,” he said.

“One Nation’s got to explain why they’re opposing the tax cuts for working Australians that we’re trying to provide now, why they opposed those tax cuts that we delivered last year, and why they continue to oppose things like the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

“They are the kind of things that I think Australians are more focussed on than negative advertising.”

The minister doubled down on that message when challenged about voter anger towards the government.

Host Monique Wright noted she had never seen the level of frustration directed at a government in her decades on the program.

“They’re angry, and they’re worried about the economics, but they’re angry with you because you lied,” she said.

Watt rejected suggestions Labor had a trust problem, arguing household finances remained voters’ overriding concern.

“At the end of the day, what Australians are most focused on is how they’re going to pay their bills, and there is only one party in Australian politics at the moment that is actually doing anything to help that,” he said.

“We’ve got the One Nation party lining up with the Liberals and Nationals against the tax cuts that we’re trying to provide.”

But Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie said the campaign reflected growing frustration among voters and highlighted what she described as Labor’s credibility problem.

“I know it’s embarrassing for Murray. Just imagine how everyone who voted for the Labor Party at the last election feels,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie said it remained unclear whether Australians would embrace seeing hard-hitting political advertising during one of the country’s biggest sporting broadcasts.

She argued Australians wanted practical solutions to rising household costs, including reducing government spending to help ease inflationary pressures.

When asked whether it was awkward for the Coalition that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was spearheading the attack on Labor, McKenzie said she had been raising similar concerns herself.

“Australians are rightfully frustrated ... Murray talks a big game on tax cuts; it’s $250 next year. We’re wanting to make sure that Australians get tax cuts each and every year by addressing bracket creep,” she said.

“It is about competeing visions for how to make people’s lives better, that’s what we need to be talking about.”