Victoria premier says prospect of One Nation-Coalition alliance frightens him — ABC News Australia

ABC News Australia reports that Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he is frightened by the prospect of the One Nation party working with the Coalition after the state election in November. He called a Labor Party victory necessary to prevent such a scenario, in his view.

Carroll told the 7.30 program that he would fight against an alliance between the Liberal Party and One Nation, as he considers it possible if Labor loses. According to him, cooperation between these forces would be directed against workers, while he intends to protect them.

The Liberals' position

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson said she is not focused on other parties and is seeking to secure a parliamentary majority for the Coalition. She also said she had not spoken with One Nation's Victorian leader Warren Pickering and urged voters to support the Coalition.

One Nation did not respond to a request from the 7.30 program for comment. The party recently won seats in by-elections in the federal electorate of Farrer in New South Wales and the electorate of Secret Harbour in Western Australia.

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Polling and Melbourne's west

According to a Redbridge poll conducted earlier this month among nearly 2,400 Victorian voters, the Coalition was supported by 29% of respondents, One Nation by 25%, and Labor by 24% on primary votes.

Redbridge adviser Kristy McSweeney, who was a Liberal Party candidate in the 2022 federal election, described Carroll's statements as a “fear campaign.” In her view, they are aimed at disillusioned Labor supporters considering changing their vote.

McSweeney also believes that these warnings are primarily addressed to voters in Melbourne's west, where infrastructure, in her assessment, is not keeping pace with rapid population growth. Labor holds the Melton electorate with a margin of 4.6%, but its long-serving MP Steve McGhie will not run in this election. At the same time, according to McSweeney, voters have begun asking questions about One Nation's specific policies for Victoria.