Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in secret talks with unions

Pauline Hanson has held secret talks with unions, cosying up with Labor-aligned organisations in a bid to recharge her party’s political fortunes.

One Nation has held shock secret talks with Labor-aligned unions in a bid to strike a political truce that would recharge Pauline Hanson’s political power.

Ms Hanson’s move to cosy up to the unions – despite years of being demonised by the ALP – also threatens the Morrison Government’s ability to pass key legislation through the Senate, including its controversial industrial relations reforms.

The Sunday Mail can reveal One Nation has asked unions to pressure Labor to drop its longstanding policy of putting the fringe party behind the Coalition on the ballot paper ahead of the Federal Election.

A One Nation source said the talks had been detailed and could be made public for debate at the next Labor conference.

Senator Hanson would not comment specifically on the discussions, but said: “The unions see a benefit dealing with One Nation and they’ve changed their approach to our party significantly.

“It’s only a matter of time before Labor as a party realise a lot of older voters are moving away from them and coming over to us … and that’s happening all over the country.”

Pauline Hanson in Townsville before the last state election. Picture: Alix Sweeney

A truce with Labor would supercharge One Nation’s political power, which has dwindled since the 2016 federal election.

Labor’s chances of victory in the must-win state of Queensland, where One Nation commands 9 per cent of the vote, would also increase following its disastrous result in 2019.

The CFMEU is understood to be involved in the talks, but it has denied any knowledge.

The union talks come amid increasingly cordial relationships between Senator Hanson and the Labor Party’s right faction, which has broken ranks to call for a renewed focus on blue-collar workers and regional communities.

Relationships between One Nation and Labor MPs have slowly thawed since late 2019 when Senator Hanson’s decisive vote killed the Coalition’s pivotal union-busting bill.

Sally McManus says the ACTU has lobbied One Nation on the Federal Government’s proposed industrial relations reform. Picture: Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, who did not respond to a request for comment, is more open to dealing with the conservative party than his predecessor, Bill Shorten.

However, partnering with One Nation after years of criticism could inflame divisions within the Labor Party.

Senator Hanson has an ongoing feud with Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, calling her a “dogmatic, dictator”.

At last year’s state election Deputy Premier Steven Miles, a member of the party’s left faction, said the minor party was filled with “freaks and weirdos”.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus confirmed the union was lobbying One Nation about government legislation, but dismissed claims it was planning to do a deal.

“We are meeting with all crossbench Senators and political parties to explain how the Government’s IR omnibus bill will hurt working people and hurt our economic recovery,” she said.

“No other matters have been discussed with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.”

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese during a visit to Brisbane this month. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Griffith University political scientist Paul Williams said One Nation’s support would benefit Labor in the LNP-held regional Queensland seats of Flynn, Herbert and Capricornia.

“The unions would be happy to share stages with Hanson, but no member of the parliamentary Labor Party would,” he said.

“There will never be a formal preference exchange … it will be rhetorical and emotional support.”

At the 2019 federal election Labor blamed its disastrous results in Queensland on preference deals the Coalition struck with One Nation and Clive Palmer.

In Queensland, there was a 3.3 per cent swing towards One Nation and a 4.2 per cent swing against Labor based on first preferences.

During last year’s state election several regional Labor MPs ignored the party’s position and instead put the LNP last.

Senator Hanson, who last week shocked many by calling for “symbols of hate, extremism, barbarity” to be banned, declared her party was well-positioned to win seats.

“Voters in the regions are telling me they’re feeling abandoned by the Nationals who are becoming less and less relevant to the regions and that One Nation is the only party that’s consistently stood up for them,” she said.

“They are definitely unhappy with Labor who think they can march in wearing Akubras and all will be forgiven.”