19-05-2025
One Nation styles itself as a party of unity — but defection remains a problem
The origin of the notion of "one-nation conservatism" is often traced back to Benjamin Disraeli, the British prime minister who was among the 19th century's most prominent and dominant political figures.
But according to Tory grandee Douglas Hurd, it was in fact a later British conservative leader who — taking inspiration from Disraeli — expressly formulated the concept.
Hurd and co-author Edward Young's biography of Disraeli cites a 1924 speech in which then-prime minister Stanley Baldwin appealed to the British people to set aside their class differences.
In this context, the words "one nation" were intended to evoke the image not of a classless society, but of a society that, while class-based, was composed of individuals prepared to look beyond socio-economic antagonisms in the interests of national unity.
It is one of the ironies of the Australian political party named One Nation that, while it often projects such an image for the country, it does not always reflect such an image in its inner workings.
Since its inception, One Nation has seemed, at times, unusually bedevilled by internal disputes, departures and defections.
The latest occurred over the weekend in South Australia, where state upper house MP Sarah Game announced she was quitting the party.
"I think they're grieving the fact that I've made this decision," Ms Game conceded on ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday.
On that point, at least, Ms Game and her former colleagues were of one mind.
In ventilating his feelings of frustration, One Nation's SA president Carlos Quaremba resorted to a parochial, sporting metaphor.
"Can you imagine if [Adelaide Crows forward] Tex Walker came out at half-time and said, 'Look, I'm changing my guernsey mid-way through the game because I'm not happy with how things are running'?," Mr Quaremba conjectured, indignantly, on ABC Radio.
"What would the supporters do? What would the coach do?
In response, Ms Game insisted she had been "true to the party" and had "wanted to remain loyal" to it.
But she added that there had been "too many moments" in which opportunities had been missed "for advocacy about causes that are very important to me" — an outcome she blamed on the party's reputation.
"I don't actually agree with some of that stereotyping about the party at all," she said.
"But ultimately my belief that I could change that stigma and change that stereotype to the level where I could be of maximum use — I lost hope in that."
At the time of her surprise victory at the 2022 state election, Ms Game was regarded as something of a mystery figure and an unlikely One Nation candidate.
Her public profile was modest and her online presence was minimal, and One Nation knocked back requests for interviews with her until her win was beyond doubt.
"Until we actually get confirmation of her winning that seat, I'm going to respect her privacy. I'm not going to discuss her," One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said at the time.
Three years on, the party remains adamant that Ms Game's win was almost exclusively the work of One Nation.
"She did no campaigning," Mr Quaremba said.
But it did not take long for Ms Game to embrace politics — even if she at times sounded like someone who did not entirely fit the One Nation mould.
In her maiden speech, she spoke strongly in favour of immigration and multiculturalism, and proudly of her own Lithuanian, German and Jewish heritage.
"I believe in people's right to maintain their culture and belief practices in Australia in a way that fosters a unified Australia, good relationships and respect between everybody," she said.
"I hold the belief that there are obstacles that the government needs to remove to allow people an equitable opportunity in life.
"I am grateful to have been born in Australia … and in my life have had the opportunity to obtain an education, a privilege that is not afforded to many around the world."
Reflecting on that privilege, Ms Game said her strong academic performance at school and university, and her work as a vet, had been made possible by her upbringing as the daughter of a "single working mother".
"My mother went to university and she obtained a science degree when it was a path largely followed by men," she said.
"She comes from a line of women who believe in the importance of education and the right for women to be independent financially."
Ms Game's mother Jennifer was herself a Senate candidate for One Nation — but on Monday her daughter confirmed she had also left the party.
According to One Nation, it was a falling-out with Jennifer Game over the party's ticket at the next state election that led to Sarah Game's defection.
"This is another instance of where a politician is being brought down by a babysitter, which was her mother," Mr Quaremba said.
"This has simply got to do with the fact that her mother said that if she wasn't number one on the ticket, she'd be leaving the party.
"This has got nothing to do with party politics or the way the party's perceived, as she's making out."
Those claims were rejected by Ms Game, who retorted that Mr Quaremba was "certainly not my closest confidant".
Nevertheless, she conceded there was "truth" in the explanation to the extent that "the dream to be in politics was originally my mother's, and I ended up here somewhat unexpectedly".
"When that relationship between her and the party ended — which was before my own relationship [with it ended] — I just ended up on the phone to her and realised, through talking it through, I needed to make these next steps," Ms Game said.
But regardless of whether family politics or party politics were the final straw for Ms Game, One Nation's South Australian predicament is hardly unique.
"This is not the first time this has happened to political parties," Mr Quaremba pointed out.
"You've only got to look at the Liberals, the Greens."
At federal level, both those parties were forced to choose new leaders in the aftermath of this month's election.
Indeed, the national poll seems to have coincided with — or perhaps even triggered — something of a reset moment in Australian politics.
There has been much talk of soul-searching, and the Nationals have also been left licking wounds.
At state level, the South Australian Greens have found themselves in an unedifying spat with upper house MP Tammy Franks, whose resignation from the party prompted acrimonious public exchanges.
In isolation, each of these developments might be regarded as of little consequence — but to anyone inclined to take a broad view of the country's current political landscape, they could amount to signs of seismic shifts.
For the time being, at least, Australia will likely remain one nation where the tectonic plates of politics continue to send out shocks.
