Arabic version: كارول يحذّر من «أمة واحدة» مع اقتراب انتخابات فيكتوريا

According to ABC News, Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has said “One Nation terrifies me” while warning that the Liberal Party and Pauline Hanson’s party could govern together after the November 28 state election. Carroll said Labor must win and that failure was not an option.

Carroll has made the prospect of a Coalition-One Nation government a central part of Labor’s re-election campaign since becoming premier in July. He said a Liberal-One Nation partnership would be “about attacking working people”, contrasting it with his stated aim of fighting for them.

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson said she was not focused on other parties and was campaigning to win majority government. Wilson said the Coalition had a plan to fix Victoria and that majority government was the only way to do so. She said she had not spoken to One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering and urged voters to back the Coalition.

Redbridge Insights adviser Kristy McSweeney said Carroll’s warnings were aimed at disillusioned Labor voters considering a change. She said Labor had trailed the Liberals and One Nation in polls for six months, including after Carroll became leader, and described the approach as a fear campaign.

A Redbridge survey of almost 2,400 Victorian voters conducted earlier in September put the Coalition on 29 per cent of the primary vote, One Nation on 25 per cent and Labor on 24 per cent. McSweeney said Labor’s pitch was particularly directed at Melbourne’s west, where voters have been frustrated by infrastructure failing to keep pace with population growth. She also said some voters were questioning what specific Victorian policies One Nation would offer.

Melbourne’s outer west, known as the “Red Wall”, includes Melton, Sunbury and Werribee. Melton is held by Labor on a 4.6 per cent margin and was the only Victorian seat to swing against Labor at the 2022 election. It is considered more vulnerable as long-serving Labor member Stephen McGhie retires, while delays have affected projects including electrification of the Melton train line.