One Nation threatens to send preferences to ALP after Longman rejection

One Nation is threatening to direct preferences to Labor ahead of the ­Coalition, after the LNP rebuffed a secret Longman deal.

One Nation Candidate for the seat of Longman, Matt Stephen. Picture: Glenn Hunt

One Nation has threatened to ­direct preferences to Labor ahead of the ­Coalition in Queensland marginal seats at the next federal election, after the Liberal Nationals rebuffed an offer to swap preferences at the Longman by-election.

The threat comes amid One Nation anger at LNP figures publicly blaming the minor party’s preference decisions for delivering a majority Labor government at last November’s Queensland election.

The secret preference discussion took place in Canberra on May 10 between One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan, who ­rejected the offer.

Senator Hanson’s chief of staff, James Ashby, who also attended the meeting, told The Australian: “The discussion we had with Barry O’Sullivan related to the fact that some members of the LNP have been saying One Nation was ­responsible for re-electing Labor to government in the state through our decision to preference most sitting members last.

“We said if this behaviour continues, we will find it difficult to change what we did in the past and put sitting members last in by-elections and the next general election.”

The Coalition holds 21 of Queensland’s 30 federal seats, eight of which are marginal and could turn on One Nation preferences.

They include Dickson, held by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, and outspoken back­bencher George Christensen’s seat of Dawson.

If Senator Hanson did give preferences to Labor ahead of the LNP in Longman, she would need to overrule candidate Matthew Stephen, who wants the ALP put last on his how-to-vote card.

Nationals Senator Barry O'Sullivan. Picture: AAP

Mr Stephen, 30, a local businessman, has been campaigning energetically in the seat, today addressing a multi-partisan forum of local right-wingers.

“People are concerned about cost of living, jobs in the area, the drug epidemic, youth crime and they want a coal-fired power ­station — that’s what (voters) have told us,” he said.

Labor’s Susan Lamb received 56.5 per cent One Nation preferences at the 2016 election, helping cut Liberal frontbencher Wyatt Roy’s initial lead of 3198 votes to a deficit of 1390.

If Mr Roy had won 70 per cent of One Nation preferences, as LNP candidates averaged statewide in November, he would have won the seat by over 3000 votes.

Senator O’Sullivan said: “I met with Senator Hanson and James Ashby. Consistent with our usual practice, I don’t want to elaborate on private conversations. I can say I did report on our discussions to the hierarchy of the party.”

The LNP expects to preselect a Longman candidate on Tuesday, having delayed the process so contender Trevor Ruthenberg, who was born in Papua New Guinea, could ensure he was eligible.

LNP strategists have blamed One Nation’s preference decisions for the loss of seats such as Mansfield, Aspley and Redlands, giving Annastacia Palaszczuk’s minority government the numbers to rule in its own right. .

LNP leader Deb Frecklington this month said it was “incredibly clear” that One Nation preferences resulted in Queensland electing a majority Labor government.