‘Hilarious’: PM’s plea for donations to fight One Nation mocked

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s call for Labor supporters to donate $10 to $27 apiece to help the party hold off the advance of One Nation has sparked derision, as the major parties seek to blame each other for Pauline Hanson’s surge in appeal.

Albanese recently made the plea after acknowledging One Nation’s rise in the polls was likely fuelled by economic dissatisfaction.

Liberal MP and opposition shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien told Today it was “hilarious”.

“Australians are amidst a cost of living crisis, and the prime minister wants everybody to donate $27 apiece to the Labor party ... thanks Albo, that’s very helpful,” he said.

Federal environment minister Murray Watt, appearing opposite O’Brien, pushed back on the characterisation, however.

“We’ll, we’re asking our supporters to do that, Ted, and I suspect the Liberal party are doing the same,” he said.

O’Brien later again referenced Albanese’s call to Labor donors, demanding he give everyday Australians “a break”, prompting Watt to label him “obsessed”.

Read more

Aussies more unhappy now than during COVID-19 lockdowns

“Ted, we’re asking our supporters to donate to our party, that’s what your party does as well,

“The problem for you is, you have no supporters left.”

Watt contended that the federal government was focused on cost of living and housing, and that it was trying to pass another tax cut now which he claimed would bring the average worker’s annual tax cut to $2800 a year.

“We know there’s a lot of Australians doing it tough out there, and they’re sending a message to the major parties,” he said.

O’Brien, alternatively, said the Albanese government was making Australians poorer, and refusing to take responsibility.

“It’s everyone else’s fault, Murray, except your team, who is in government,” he said.

O’Brien admitted that the Liberal party had yet to “earn the trust” of Australians turning to One Nation, but blamed the Labor government for the populist party’s surge.

Meanwhile, Watt repeatedly claimed the government’s cost of living and housing initiatives were opposed in parliament by the Liberal, National, and One Nation parties.