Federal Election 2019: WA Liberals displeasure at Clive Palmer deal and One Nation snub

WA Liberals have questioned Scott Morrison’s snub to One Nation on how-to-vote cards, arguing Pauline Hanson’s party should be above Labor and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

At a meeting of the WA Liberal State executive on Wednesday night, party bosses gave details of a preference swap deal with Palmer’s UAP, which the Liberals hope could save key seats such as Pearce, held by Attorney-General Christian Porter.

But some Liberals asked why the WA party was following the Prime Minister’s edict that One Nation be placed below Labor on voting cards, arguing the State party should be able to make its own decisions while suggesting One Nation had more in common ideologically with the Liberals than Labor.

Scott Morrison decreed that State branches of the Liberals should put One Nation below Labor on how-to-vote cards after it was revealed One Nation had sought funds from America’s National Rifle Association to weaken Australia’s gun laws.

The West Australian understands that while some questioned Mr Morrison’s order on One Nation, others argued that Senator Hanson’s party no longer had a monopoly on right-wing voters.

A preference deal between the Liberals and the UAP would gift Mr Palmer Liberal preferences in the Senate, which could hand the businessman an Upper House seat in Queensland at the expense of One Nation candidate Malcolm Roberts.

The UAP are polling well in marginal seats thanks to a $30 million advertising spend — said to be more than Labor and the Coalition’s combined spend.