New Liberal Party president Tony Abbott has publicly backed preference deals with One Nation, stating that the party cannot win the next election by being 'slaves to focus groups' or merely 'a little less woke than Labor'. Abbott made the remarks in a recent interview, emphasizing a need for the Liberals to differentiate themselves more clearly from the opposition.
Abbott, a former prime minister, was elected as party president in May 2026. His comments come amid internal debate within the Liberal Party about electoral strategy and coalition-building with minor parties. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has not yet publicly responded to Abbott's statements.
The preference deal with One Nation has been a contentious issue in Australian politics, with some Liberal MPs expressing concern about aligning with the right-wing party. Abbott argued that such deals are necessary to secure victory and that the party must appeal to conservative voters who feel abandoned by the mainstream.
