RedBridge Says One Nation Surge Points To ‘End Of The Menzies Project’

RedBridge director Kos Samaras says new modelling points to “the end of the Menzies project”, with One Nation projected to overtake the Coalition if an election were held now.

RedBridge director Kos Samaras says new modelling points to “the end of the Menzies project”, with One Nation projected to overtake the Coalition if an election were held now.

TLC Healthcare has put forward a $250 million public-private partnership proposal for Rosebud Hospital, reigniting debate over how the southern peninsula hospital should be rebuilt.

One Nation’s Farrer breakthrough has added weight to warning signs already visible in Nepean, where the party topped several booths and exposed pressure on the Liberal primary vote. With Hastings held by Labor on a narrow margin, November’s Victorian state election could be far more volatile than expected.

The Liberal Party is projected to retain Nepean, but provisional results show a weakened primary vote, a strong One Nation result and a sizeable independent vote for Tracee Hutchison.

STPL News observed a calmer atmosphere at Rosebud pre-poll on Wednesday, 29 April, following the previous day’s reports, footage and photos showing confrontational scenes outside the early voting centre.

Liberal campaign workers have been accused of harassing volunteers, voters and One Nation candidate Darren Hercus at Rosebud pre-poll, with STPL News supplied videos, photographs and audio showing repeated confrontations.

Liberal candidate Anthony Marsh is facing fresh signs of unrest in Nepean, with long-time Liberal supporters, public comments and a former party member’s full-page advertisement raising questions about his candidacy.

Fresh anti-One Nation material is circulating in Nepean through letterbox flyers, authorised video and text messages, adding to concerns about an increasingly negative Liberal campaign centred on Rosebud Hospital ahead of the by-election.

Pauline Hanson’s appearance alongside Darren Hercus in Rosebud drew a packed crowd and added visible momentum to One Nation’s push in the Nepean by-election.

Pauline Hanson has appeared beside Nepean candidate Darren Hercus at a sold out One Nation event, with more updates expected later tonight.

The Liberal Party is being labelled desperate after copies of an anti-One Nation flyer, authorised by the party itself, began circulating across the Nepean electorate.

Frank Schiefler has been chosen by the Liberal Party for endorsement as its candidate for Hastings at the November Victorian state election, with a formal public announcement still pending.

The Victorian Liberal Party appears to have repeated in Hastings the same top-down preselection play used in Nepean, raising fresh questions about rank-and-file members being shut out and the political cost of party arrogance.

Labor has won comfortably in South Australia, but the bigger story is One Nation’s surge and the collapse of the Liberal vote. With similar political conditions emerging in Victoria, the Nepean by-election is now shaping as an early test ahead of the November state election.

One Nation candidate Darren Hercus says the party does not want to play a support role in the Nepean by-election, instead pitching itself as a genuine contender while campaigning on cost of living, housing, crime and Rosebud Hospital.

Former Liberal Party member Shane Osborne has confirmed to STPL News he has nominated to run for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in Hastings after withdrawing from Liberal preselection and resigning his membership. The Liberals have not announced a candidate at publication time.

The Nepean by-election is set for 2 May after Sam Groth’s resignation. Labor is not running, One Nation has named Darren Hercus, and a Roy Morgan poll shows One Nation leading in Victoria. Anthony Marsh’s past statements and a verified how-to-vote card have added scrutiny as the May by-election and November state election approaches.

Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart has withdrawn from the Flinders federal race, slamming his party’s decision to preference candidate Ben Smith ahead of conservative contenders.

A quiet prayer between Flinders candidates Ben Smith and Mike Brown has ignited political controversy, with claims of preference discussions denied by both parties.