Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
James Ashby denies seeking a One Nation preference deal with Victorian Labor
James Ashby denies trying to arrange a preference deal between One Nation and Labor before Victoria’s state election.
Two Labor sources said Ashby contacted the party’s campaign headquarters in recent weeks, including calls to senior leaders on 24 and 26 October.
Ashby said he called to ask which leaders would take part in election debates, while Labor sources said the party was not negotiating with One Nation.
The issue gained attention after One Nation’s Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, was photographed having coffee with Labor-connected lobbyist Andrew Landeryou in Melbourne.
The Liberal campaign has used the image to suggest a possible deal, while Labor says it wants voters to consider the prospect of a Liberal government relying on One Nation.
Victoria votes on 28 November, and Liberal leader Jess Wilson has agreed to appear with the other leaders at a forum on 17 November.
James Ashby denied trying to arrange a preference deal between One Nation and Victorian Labor ahead of Victoria’s 28 November election.
He said his calls to Labor were about leaders’ debates, while two senior Labor sources told Guardian Australia he had contacted the party’s campaign headquarters.
Labor sources said the party was not negotiating with One Nation, and Ashby said One Nation wanted Labor “gone”.
The Liberal campaign pointed to a photograph of One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering having coffee with Labor operative Andrew Landeryou as suggesting a possible deal.
Liberal leader Jess Wilson agreed to take part in a “people’s forum” with Premier Ben Carroll, Pickering and Greens leader Ellen Sandell on 17 November.
- Who
- James Ashby, Pauline Hanson’s chief strategist, denied seeking a deal with Victorian Labor.
- What
- Ashby said his calls to Labor were about leaders’ debates, not preference negotiations.
- When
- The election is on 28 November; Labor sources said Ashby called its senior leadership on 24 and 26 October.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- Ashby said he wanted to know who would take part in the debates and whether One Nation’s involvement was deterring participants.
Liberal campaign
James Ashby and Victorian Labor
Possible preference deal
Liberal campaign
The Liberal campaign said a photograph of Warren Pickering having coffee with Andrew Landeryou suggested One Nation and Labor could make a preference deal.
James Ashby and Victorian Labor
Ashby denied seeking a deal, and Labor sources said the party was not negotiating with One Nation.
Two senior Labor sources said Ashby called the party’s senior leadership.
Pickering was pictured having coffee with Labor operative Andrew Landeryou in Melbourne’s CBD.
Ashby told Guardian Australia his calls to Labor concerned leaders’ debates, not preference negotiations.
Wilson is due to appear at a “people’s forum” with Carroll, Pickering and Sandell.
Victoria is due to hold its state election.
- Election date
- 28 November
- Ashby’s calls
- 24 and 26 October
- People’s forum
- 17 November
- One Nation Victorian leader
- Warren Pickering
- Labor operative
- Andrew Landeryou
What people are saying
I wanted to know whether they were participating in the debates. That’s all it was.
There’s no preference deals. I’m not interested in talking to them about preferences. We want them gone. That’s why we put them last.
The Labor party is not speaking to One Nation.
One Nation is here to win, and we will get this done, whatever the disposition of the parliament.