Taylor declares One Nation ‘not fit to govern’ as Coalition confronts polling squeeze

The Opposition Leader has intensified his attack on Pauline Hanson’s party, rejected recent remarks attributed to Senator Malcolm Roberts and declined to say whether he would counsel Liberal Senator Alex Antic.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Angus Taylor MP, has sharpened the Coalition’s confrontation with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, declaring the ascendant minor party a “one-person show” that is “not fit to govern”.

Speaking during a visit to Turramurra Veterinary Hospital in Sydney on Monday, Mr Taylor argued that the Coalition possessed the experience, personnel and economic program required to displace the Albanese Government, while One Nation lacked the institutional depth necessary to govern.

“We have the team, we have the experience, we’ve worked in business, we’ve worked in the private sector,” Mr Taylor said.

“One Nation is a one-person show, not fit to govern, that will take us into an economic crisis — will worsen the economic crisis indeed.”

The intervention marks a further escalation in Mr Taylor’s attempt to arrest the transfer of disaffected conservative voters to One Nation. It follows his recent address to the Sydney Institute, where he contended that four One Nation policies would add approximately $1 trillion to public expenditure over a decade and could force interest rates substantially higher.

Polling underscores Coalition predicament

The political pressure confronting Mr Taylor was reinforced by the latest Newspoll, which placed Labor and One Nation level on 30 per cent of the primary vote, with the Coalition trailing on 19 per cent.

Other polling has produced a less catastrophic result for the Opposition. Roy Morgan’s survey conducted from 13 to 19 July placed Labor on 27.5 per cent, the Coalition on 23 per cent and One Nation on 22.5 per cent.

Although the surveys employ different methodologies and should not be read interchangeably, their collective message remains uncomfortable for the Coalition: One Nation is competing directly for voters who would once have been considered part of the Liberal and National parties’ natural constituency.

The threat is particularly pronounced in New South Wales. A DemosAU-PremierNational state voting-intention pollconducted in June placed Labor on 32 per cent, One Nation on 27 per cent and the Liberal-National Coalition on 20 per cent.

Mr Taylor sought to turn the contest into a referendum on governing competence.

“We are the only ones with the plan, the direction and the team to get us out of a crisis of Labor’s making,” he said.

He reiterated his contention that several One Nation commitments would expand government expenditure, aggravate inflation and require the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift interest rates by as much as three percentage points. Those calculations form part of the Coalition’s political case against One Nation and were not independently tested during the press conference.

One Nation has rejected the Liberal Party’s broader offensive, previously accusing Mr Taylor of misrepresenting its policies and presiding over an internally divided party.

Taylor rejects Roberts remarks but avoids commitment on Antic

Mr Taylor was also questioned about Liberal Senator for South Australia Alex Antic’s description of One Nation Senator for Queensland Malcolm Roberts as a “clear thinker”.

The journalist referred to remarks attributed to Senator Roberts about the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin and American broadcaster Alex Jones.

“I don’t agree with those views,” Mr Taylor said.

Asked directly whether he would counsel Senator Antic, Mr Taylor did not commit to doing so.

“I’ve made it clear what my views are on this. We don’t agree with those views,” he said.

The response illustrates the delicate internal balance confronting the Opposition Leader. Mr Taylor is attempting to establish a decisive distinction between the Coalition and One Nation while retaining the support of Liberal parliamentarians whose political instincts and constituencies overlap with aspects of One Nation’s appeal.

Small businesses warn of cumulative pressure

The political exchanges occurred during a small-business visit attended by Senator for New South Wales Maria Kovacic and the Member for Davidson, Matt Cross MP, who also serves as New South Wales Shadow Cabinet Secretary and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Government Accountability and Men’s Health.

Veterinarian Dr James Thompson told the Opposition representatives that he and his wife, Gretta, had spent two decades building their practice, which they regarded as their principal retirement asset.

Dr Thompson criticised the Government’s capital gains tax reforms and said their effect would be compounded by wage decisions, changes to merchant-fee surcharging and the introduction of payday superannuation.

“Individually they’re probably all okay, but when you get hit by four or five waves of this in a row, it’s a real challenge,” he said.

Senator Kovacic argued that the Government had failed to appreciate the investment, training and employment generated by family-owned enterprises.

Mr Taylor similarly maintained that rising costs, taxation and regulation were making it more difficult for small businesses to survive, citing an average of more than 30 corporate insolvencies a day since Labor came to office.

The figure is derived from companies entering external administration and is not synonymous with every business ceasing trade. Insolvency levels have nevertheless risen considerably following the withdrawal of pandemic-era support, higher interest rates, elevated operating costs and the Australian Taxation Office’s resumption of debt-recovery activity.

Government defends CGT reforms

The Government’s proposed capital gains tax changes are due to commence on 1 July 2027. They would replace the general 50 per cent CGT discount with cost-base indexation and a 30 per cent minimum tax rate on real gains.

Treasury says the four existing small-business CGT concessions will remain, while the turnover threshold for the 50 per cent active-asset reduction will increase from $2 million to $10 million. It estimates more than 90 per cent of active small businesses will remain eligible for all four concessions.

A separate 30 per cent minimum tax would apply to some discretionary trusts. The Government has also consulted on an Innovative Business CGT Concession intended to encourage long-term investment in eligible start-ups — a distinction Dr Thompson argued unfairly privileged selected innovative enterprises over established family businesses.

Mr Taylor framed the Coalition’s alternative around lower taxation, reduced regulation, constrained government expenditure and migration levels calibrated against housing construction.

Darwin Port demand answered by Albanese

The Opposition Leader also used the appearance to demand a timetable for returning the Port of Darwin to Australian control, accusing Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP of failing to provide an update on his 2025 election commitment.

“This is a national security issue of the utmost importance,” Mr Taylor said.

“He needs to answer the question as to what he is doing about it, how fast it’s going to be done and when it’s going to be achieved.”

Later that day, however, the Prime Minister addressed the issue during a press conference in Darwin.

“There are commercial negotiations and those commercial negotiations are continuing,” Mr Albanese said. “We will ensure it comes back into Australian hands.”

Mr Taylor’s remarks demonstrate the strategy now taking shape under his leadership: prosecute Labor over economic management while depicting One Nation as an electorally tempting but institutionally and fiscally hazardous alternative.