Liberal frontbencher pushes back on coalition with One Nation

Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan says a coalition with One Nation is not part of party discussions, amid a rise in the minor party's popularity. Mr Tehan has distanced himself from remarks by Liberal Party President Tony Abbott, who linked migration to the "diluting" of Celtic-culture. What's next? Politicians will gauge the popularity of One Nation in their seats as they return to their electorates for the mid-winter break. Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan has pushed back on suggestions the Liberals could form a coalition with One Nation, while distancing himself from migration remarks made by Liberal Party President Tony Abbott. One Nation's surge in popularity in recent months has raised questions about whether the Liberal party could form a coalition with the minor party to win back seats from Labor. Opposition leader Angus Taylor previously ruled out carving up seats with One Nation at the next federal election, while leaving the door open for a preference deal. Asked whether a coalition with One Nation was a red line for Mr Tehan, he said it was not the party’s focus. “I'm very happy being a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party. That's all we're focused on,” he told Insiders on Sunday morning. Pressed several times on whether he would remain a part of the Liberal Party if it joined with One Nation, he said it’s “not being talked about”. "No, we do not want to be part of a coalition with One Nation," he said. “We're not entertaining, we're not discussing, we're not thinking about being part of a coalition with One Nation." Tehan distances himself from Abbott migration remarks Earlier in the week, Liberal Party of Australia President Tony Abbott gave a speech in London, during which he raised concerns about the effect of mass migration. He said migration from countries with other cultures would "dilute" and "extinguish" Anglo-Celtic culture. Mr Tehan said he had not heard about the speech but clarified that it was the party room that set migration policies. "There are people who have a lot of views about this, but it is the party room which always has and always will set the policy agenda and that’s what we will continue to do," he said. He highlighted that Mr Taylor had set this out in his budget reply, when he proposed to allow migration to grow at a ratio of one person to one home built. Mr Taylor said by tying migration to the pace of home building, it would allow the construction sector to catch up to higher levels of net overseas migration in recent years. The net overseas migration for 2024–25 was 306,000 people, while over the same period, 174,752 homes and apartments were built, meaning there were about 1.7 migrants for every extra dwelling. "We're a country of diverse backgrounds, many cultures, but we've got to make sure that we do not lose those values that have made us such a great nation," Mr Tehan added. "Multiculturalism has worked for this nation when it's underpinned by incredibly strong values, and we don't want to lose those. If we lose those, then there will be pressure that comes on multiculturalism."