Hanson names SA’s One Nation top pick amid Liberal defection speculation
A former Liberal, Australian Conservative and Oyster HQ owner has pushed aside a long-time foot soldier to claim One Nation’s top state election spot. Senior Liberals now forced to quell speculation another high-profile name will follow.
Announcing Cory Bernardi’s candidacy surrounded by her supporters in North Adelaide, One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson said that the former Australian Conservatives and Liberal politician would bring “experience, knowledge and understanding” to the party that is surging in popularity in South Australian polls.
Carlos Quaremba, who is state president for One Nation and was previously its lead Upper House candidate, would be pushed down to second on the ticket, but Bernardi, who was now listed as number one for the Upper House ticket, said, “We’re optimistic about winning both seats.
“Cory has strong, sound conservative values that are an excellent fit with One Nation, and he’s a prominent South Australian keen to make the positive differences in his home state the Liberals just can’t bring themselves to make,” she said.
“There’s no hope for the people, the cost of living, the lack of housing, mass migration, all these things have accumulated and have had an impact and still will continue to have an impact unless we put out decent common-sense policies to turn it around.”
Bernardi, who joined One Nation last year and lives in Kent Town, said that he was approached by Hanson to run for the seat. He previously won a profile with his own Sky News program that was axed in 2023.
One Nation currently holds no seats in South Australia after Sarah Game defected from the party during her term in the Upper House and has now established her own Fair Go for Australians party.
Pauline Hanson’s chief media advisor Richard Henderson will be relocating to Adelaide for the state election campaign.
Henderson is a former journalist and public relations consultant who previously ran for the seat of South Brisbane during the October 2024 state election.
You might like
He was also previously a media adviser in the Liberal Party for South Australian MP Tim Whetstone and senior federal Liberal Anne Ruston.
Ruston was dismissive of One Nation’s chances, saying that “at the last election they were only able to secure just one representative in the State Parliament and that member has since left the party”.
“That tells you everything you need to know about One Nation’s political prospects in South Australia,” she said.
Bernardi – who owns Oyster HQ in Coffin Bay with his wife Sinead – was a federal senator for South Australia from 2006 until 2020 and quit the Liberal Party in 2017 to set up his own party, Australian Conservatives.
It was after he resigned from politics that Bernardi presented his own segment on conservative news outlet Sky News.
He said South Australians had been “let down” by the major parties and pledged that “we will be the strongest voice of opposition that this government has ever faced”.
Referencing the state-based First Nations’ Voice to Parliament, Bernardi said he wanted “to get rid of these divisive, race-based policies”.
“They want to divide us up into a nation of tribes and factions – the only group that we should be interested in is the group of South Australians, the people who want to make this state bigger and better, more prosperous,” he said.
He said One Nation would prioritise removing red tape for businesses, reducing the cost of living and reducing government spending.
“If you want a more affordable cost of living, a safer place to raise your family, to build your business, if you want hope and optimism for the future, well, One Nation is your only option,” he said.
Stay informed, daily
Bernardi was also certain that One Nation could end ramping in South Australia.
“What we need to do is to stop tinkering around the edges with so many of our frontline services – we need to stop wasting our money on bureaucrats and backroom operators and special deals,” he said.
Bernardi said One Nation would contest every seat in South Australia and run a full ticket in the Upper House, with about 27 candidates so far.
He said One Nation would soon be releasing its suite of policies.
Asked if she was courting other Liberals to join One Nation, Hanson said “only if they’re worthwhile”, adding that she was not actively trying to recruit any Liberal or National MPs to the party.
“I’m not ruling anything in or out, but I will not have opportunists that see a ship sinking to ensure their seat on the floor of parliament,” she said.
Conservative South Australian Liberal Senator Alex Antic did not provide a comment to InDaily’s queries about growing speculation he would join One Nation, simply telling the publication that “I had honestly forgotten about InDaily”.
Asked this morning on ABC Radio about Bernardi’s defection to One Nation, SA Liberal leader Ashton Hurn said she is “taking the next election very seriously, and we’re not taking anything for granted”.
“I’ll treat One Nation in the same way that I’m treating any independent and any other minor party, and that’s with a lot of respect,” she said.
“I’ll look at all of the detailed ideas that they put forward, but ultimately, I’m just focused on beating the Labor Party – that’s my focus, because I think we’ve got a bad government which is not focused on the important things impacting South Australians.”
Treasurer Ben Hood noted that SA Liberals have 21 sitting members in South Australia’s Parliament, with One Nation’s sitting member having quit.
“The Liberal team will remain laser focused on putting forward practical and positive policies that will get the important things right for South Australia,” he said.
Responding to Bernardi’s candidacy, Upper House Greens MLC Robert Simms said that “Cory Bernardi has more baggage than a 747”.
“If Cory Bernardi’s One Nation wins the balance of power in the Upper House, what will this mean for women’s rights, LGBTI rights and workers’ rights in our state?” he said.
