A Familiar Playbook?

Labor leaders Steven Miles and Cameron Dick have resurrected the specter of Pauline Hanson as a central threat to their party’s future, claiming that the Crisafulli LNP government is in league with One Nation. But is this merely politics-as-usual or something more insidious?

The tactics employed by Labor are nothing new – they’re a mirror image of those used by the LNP when it comes to the Greens. The LNP would label environmental reform as “job-killing” and an example of “radical” ideology, while Labor is now painting One Nation’s populist agenda as a recipe for chaos.

However, Labor has its own history with One Nation, dating back to the late 1990s when the party was forced to distance itself from Hanson and her followers after they were caught courting the far-right in a bid to secure preferences. Two decades later, Miles and Dick are using similar tactics to undermine their opponents.

The real issue here isn’t the LNP’s potential alliance with One Nation – although that is certainly a concern for many Queenslanders. Rather, it’s Labor’s transparent attempt to shift attention away from its own policies and onto its opponents. When Miles says the LNP can’t form government on its own, he’s really saying that Labor needs to scare voters into thinking they’re the only viable alternative.

Labor’s policy promises are also underwhelming. Housing affordability remains a pressing issue in Queensland, with thousands of families struggling to make ends meet. Miles’ promise to modernize the social housing income threshold is woefully inadequate – it hasn’t been updated since 2006. This speaks volumes about Labor’s own priorities.

Dick’s warnings about an “unholy alliance” between the LNP and One Nation are nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to demonize their opponents. By invoking the name of Gina Rinehart, he’s attempting to tap into a deeper sense of unease among voters.

As we move towards the next election, it’s worth remembering that Labor has its own dirty laundry when it comes to One Nation. The party needs to be careful not to overplay its hand – lest it become trapped in the very same coalition of chaos it claims to fear.

The use of terms like “coalition of chaos” and “far-right agenda” by Labor leaders raises more questions than answers. Is this a genuine attempt to warn voters about the dangers of a LNP-One Nation alliance, or simply a convenient way to shift attention away from their own policies?

Labor’s past dealings with One Nation are a reminder that politics is often a case of “what goes around comes around.” The party needs to be careful not to fall into the same trap it accuses its opponents of falling into.

Miles’ promise to modernize the social housing income threshold and introduce interest payments on rental bonds is a start, but what about the bigger picture? Is this merely a Band-Aid solution to a far more complex problem?

As we move towards the next election, it’s worth remembering that Labor has its own demons when it comes to One Nation. The party needs to be careful not to get caught in the very same trap it accuses others of falling into.

The politics of fear and division will only take us so far – eventually, voters demand substance over spectacle. Will Labor rise to the challenge or continue down the path of empty rhetoric? Only time will tell.