Politics · Australia · 1 day ago
CPAC highlights divisions over how Australia’s right can defeat Labor
The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, brought rightwing politicians and campaigners together in Brisbane.
Much of the event focused on how conservatives could defeat Anthony Albanese’s Labor government at the next election.
Labor holds 94 seats, while the right is divided between the Coalition and a surging One Nation.
CPAC urged supporters of both groups to give preferences to each other rather than risk helping Labor.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson signed a pledge to work together, but also criticised the Coalition and challenged its leader, Angus Taylor.
Taylor faced boos after avoiding questions about cooperation with One Nation.
The conference ended without a clear plan for how the parties would work together.
CPAC in Brisbane focused on how Australia’s conservative right could cooperate to defeat Labor at the next election.
The conference took place amid a splintered right-wing vote, with the Coalition facing a surging One Nation.
CPAC warned that conservatives risked reinstalling Labor if Coalition and One Nation supporters refused to give each other preferences.
Pauline Hanson signed a pledge to work together but also told attendees they should not trust the Coalition.
By the conference’s end, it was unclear how the parties of the right would cooperate.
- Who
- Conservative politicians and campaigners, including Pauline Hanson and Coalition leaders, attended CPAC.
- What
- The conference highlighted divisions over how the right could cooperate to defeat Labor.
- When
- This year; the article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- Brisbane, Australia.
- Why
- The right faced a difficult task because its vote was splintered while Labor held 94 seats.
One Nation
Coalition
Cooperation
One Nation
Hanson signed a pledge to work together and said the ball was in Angus Taylor’s court.
Coalition
Taylor dodged questions about cooperation with One Nation.
Trust
One Nation
Hanson told the conference not to trust the Coalition.
Coalition
The article does not state the Coalition’s view on whether One Nation should be trusted.
If you support One Nation but won’t preference the Coalition, or support the Coalition but won’t preference One Nation, you risk reinstalling Labor.
to work together
no longer be the bridesmaid
Speakers at the previous year’s CPAC criticised Peter Dutton as “Labor-lite”.
CPAC in Brisbane focused on how the right could cooperate to defeat Labor.
Hanson signed a pledge to work together, while challenging Taylor and Matt Canavan to do the same.
- Location
- Brisbane
- Labor seats
- 94
- One Nation leader
- Pauline Hanson
- Coalition leader
- Angus Taylor
- Conference focus
- Preferences and cooperation between parties of the right


