The Australia Desk · Story 8
Tony Abbott backs One Nation preference deal and says Liberals can’t just be a ‘little less woke than Labor’
Tony Abbott has endorsed a preference deal between the Liberal Party and One Nation, arguing the Liberals cannot just be a 'little less woke than Labor.' The Guardian reports that the Liberals and Nationals are facing surging support for Pauline Hanson's party, which threatens to replace them as Australia's main conservative force.
This deal signals a potential realignment of conservative politics in Australia, as the major parties grapple with the rise of populist and minor parties. The outcome could reshape electoral dynamics and policy direction in the lead-up to the next federal election.
Key details
- Tony Abbott has publicly backed a preference deal between the Liberal Party and One Nation.
- Abbott stated that the Liberals cannot simply be a 'little less woke than Labor.'
- The Guardian reports that the Liberals and Nationals are grappling with surging support for Pauline Hanson's party, which threatens to replace them as Australia's main conservative party.
- The story was posted on r/australia and has received over 1,000 upvotes and 459 comments.
- The original article is from The Guardian, published on June 9, 2026.
Discussion angles
- The preference deal is seen as a surrender to One Nation rather than a strategic move, with the top comment calling it a 'roll over and die approach.'
- Tony Abbott's involvement is met with irony, given his past as minister for women, with one commenter highlighting this contradiction.
- The conservative vote is fragmenting, with commenters predicting that both the Teals and One Nation will erode the Liberal-National base, potentially leading to a messy hung parliament.
- The term 'woke' is criticised as undefined and overused, with one commenter arguing it is applied to any policy that treats people humanely.
- The Liberals' shift from condemning Pauline Hanson to seeking her preferences is described as breathtaking cynicism by multiple commenters.
Top comments
The community reaction is overwhelmingly critical, with many commenters viewing the preference deal as a surrender to One Nation and a cynical abandonment of Liberal principles. Several users mock Tony Abbott's past statements and question the vague use of the term 'woke.' Others predict a messy hung parliament as conservative voters fragment between the Teals and One Nation. The top comment describes the deal as a 'roll over and die approach,' while another calls it a 'white flag.' A recurring theme is the perceived hypocrisy of the Liberals, who once condemned Pauline Hanson but now seek to legitimise her party. Some commenters express frustration that the term 'woke' is used as a catchall