Latest news with #TheWorldAccordingtoRowanDean
Sky News AU
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Pauline Hanson invites Nationals to form coalition with One Nation amid negotiations over new agreement with Liberal Party
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has invited the National Party to form an alliance with her own party as a new coalition agreement remains in limbo. Senator Hanson joined Bronwyn Bishop for a panel on The World According to Rowan Dean on Friday, where she discussed how the Liberal Party had lost a lot of its negotiating power as it aims to come to terms with the National Party on a new coalition agreement. The Liberal Party lost a plethora of seats in the 2025 election, with another in doubt, while the Nationals retained each of their seats. The Nationals' superior performance led Senator Hanson to declare they have a stronger position in discussions over the agreement, as both parties appear split on particular issues - including where they each stand on net zero. Senator Hanson hinted this could cause "problems within" the Coalition, especially after members of the Nationals made clear their feelings about ditching the position of reaching net zero by 2050. "Now the Nats have actually kept all their seats, the Libs have lost their seats. They don't have the upper hand. With the numbers in the parliament, the Nats are wanting to say 'hey, hang on a minute, we're going to really talk seriously about policy'," she said on Sky News' The World According to Rowan Dean. "The Nats definitely want to get out of net zero. I think it could be make or break for the Coalition." Senator Hanson also left the door open to the Nationals to enter and alliance with One Nation, claiming they were more in line with her own party's policies. "I was the first one to come out against the Voice, then followed by the Nats. It took Dutton and the Liberal Party months before they came out against the Voice. So there are things that they're actually dragged along, kicking and screaming; coal-fired power stations, net zero, also transmission lines," she said. "So what I'll say, the Nats are more in line with One Nation's policies and if they want to, if David Littleproud wants to come and talk to me about doing a coalition I'll have no problem sitting down and having a talk with him. Because we're more in line with the same policies (and) what we want for the country." Senator Hanson also said that while she congratulated Sussan Ley on becoming the first female leader of the Coalition, she did not have "a lot of confidence in her". While the Senator suggested there could be trouble brewing over a deal between the Liberals and Nationals getting over the line, Ms Bishop did not express the same concern. "Look, when the Liberal Party was formed 81 years ago, and the Country Party, as it then was, declined to become part of the new party, it was decided that they would go into coalition, and they've been that way for 81 years. It's not about to change," she said.
Sky News AU
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'They don't inspire me': Pauline Hanson and Hollie Hughes disagree over Liberal leadership candidates
Senators Pauline Hanson and Hollie Hughes have disagreed on who they favour for Liberal Party leadership, with Peter Dutton's replacement just days away from being chosen. The Liberal Party was left leaderless on Saturday, as the outgoing opposition leader lost his Queensland seat of Dickson amid a resounding defeat in the federal election. Deputy leader Sussan Ley and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor have emerged as the frontrunners to be the new leader, with the party set to come to a decision on Tuesday after a party room ballot at 10am. Pauline Hanson and Hollie Hughes joined Rowan Dean for Sky News Australia's program The World According to Rowan Dean. The latest episode is available to watch now, and new episodes are out every Friday, for subscribers. Both candidates on Friday formally announced their intentions to run for the leadership of the party, but One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson said she wasn't convinced by either of them. "Sussan Ley... she was the one years ago who didn't support the sheep export. She was quite happy to get rid of the live sheep export, also I went to her (when she was) environmental minister in the Morrison government, about environmental issues about a coal mine in Queensland, which she could have done something about, she never did anything about it," Senator Hanson said on The World According to Rowan Dean. "So she doesn't inspire me as a leader, I've watched her in these interviews, she leaves me just wanting, what are you standing for? Show me some leadership skills or qualities." The One Nation Leader also said Mr Taylor's performance in the election for the Liberal Party left a lot to be desired. "Angus Taylor, well, I think that he could have actually done more during the election with finance and with... you know, decent policies to actually counteract the Labor Party's policies. So they don't inspire me. "I think both parties are lacking good talent on the floor of parliament. Go back to the (John) Howard days, there was great frontbench ministers on either side of parliament, we're lacking that today in our parliament." Senator Hughes was also unconvinced by the shadow treasurer, dishing out a scathing assessment of his preparation for the election campaign, and throwing her support behind Ms Ley to become leader. "I think Susan is fantastic. I've known both of them for a very, very long time. She has an incredible background, whether it is growing up all around the world," she said. "She understands rural and regional areas. I'm pretty sure she's one of the few people in parliament who can shear a sheep. She's a commercial pilot. You know, she's got a huge depth of experience. "She's not standing there going, 'hey, I went to a GPS school and (I'm) a Rhodes Scholar, so the achievements I made before 30 are the reason you should be electing me', which if you listen to some of the reasoning behind Angus Taylor. It's like someone in their 40s putting their HSC result on their CV. I mean, come on, grow up, what have you done recently? "And I think what Angus has done recently showed that he either didn't do the work or he wasn't up to the job because the policy dearth that we had to sell during this campaign, we didn't have a tax policy." Senator Hanson also weighed into the defection of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the Nationals to the Liberal Party. She said while she has "a lot of time" for her, she is not sure the shadow indigenous affairs minister has enough experience for a leadership role, amid reports she will join Mr Taylor's push to lead, and suggested the move will cause dramas within the Coalition. "I can see that it's going to be beneficial to her in the long run, but she can't stay in the Senate. She's only in for three years. So what's going happen in the next election?" she asked. "They will have to find her a safe seat. So then where are they going to put her? And also, this is going to cause problems between the two parties because the Nats and Libs will have to get over this." The Senator also suggested Michaelia Cash and James Paterson would have been better positioned for a tilt at deputy leader, as they contain "untapped" talent.
Sky News AU
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Practicing for war': Barnaby Joyce issues chilling warning about China as he says Australia has 'got to wake up'
Shadow minister for veterans' affairs Barnaby Joyce has declared it crucial Australia becomes "as powerful as possible, as quickly as possible" to fend off external threats. Mr Joyce's comments come after the Coalition this week pledged to increase defence spending by $21 billion over the next five years, lifting total outlay to 2.5 per cent of GDP. This will rise to 3 per cent of GDP within a decade, while the Albanese government's spend plateaus at about 2.3 per cent. The Nationals MP said it was imperative Australia "wake up" to the defence challenges facing the nation. Barnaby Joyce joined Rowan Dean for Sky News Australia's new program The World According to Rowan Dean. The latest episode is available to watch now, and new episodes are out every Friday, for subscribers. "We have got to realise what is before us. We have got to wake up. We have only one job in this nation - become as powerful as possible, as quickly as possible," he said. "You can't just say, well our defence policy is the mums and dads of Tennessee and South Carolina and California, well they're going to send their sons and daughters over to die on our behalf. "I think that is a pretty poor policy. "You actually have to fundamentally be able to defend yourself, be resourceful enough to resupply yourself, be tactical enough to understand what an adversary is doing and get in front of it. "I think we have a long way to go. I'm glad that Peter Dutton has started taking the steps required." Mr Joyce said recent live fire exercises conducted by three Chinese warships off the New South Wales coast highlighted how Beijing was "practicing for war". "We have to realise that when China went off the coast... and did live fire exercises, that is practicing," he said. "What are they practicing? Well they're obviously practicing for conflict, they're practicing for war off the coast of Sydney. "And yet... the penny doesn't seem to have dropped for Australia." In recent weeks, a Chinese research vessel has also circumnavigated the southern coast of Australia, while reports emerged Russia requested to use an air force base in Indonesia. "In the circumnavigation of Australia, basically having their so-called research vessel, stooge through Bass Strait, obviously working out the oceanography and where the cables are," Mr Joyce said. "Getting their tactical data that they require for whatever they intend to do for Melbourne. "Now we have obviously the continued discussion and the continued allegations, or maybe they're stronger than that, from Janes journal about Russians wanting to build a base... within striking distance of Australia." Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier his month said he had discussed the Janes report with his Indonesian counterpart and had been informed suggestions of Russian planes operating out of the country were simply "not true". However, the government repeatedly refused to rule out whether such a request was actually made.
