Overview

• Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and the Liberal-National Coalition have agreed to a mutual second-preference deal, a first since One Nation’s founding in 1996.
• One Nation’s how-to-vote cards now recommend Coalition candidates as the second preference, while the Coalition reciprocates in 139 of the 147 seats One Nation is contesting.
• The deal aims to bolster the Coalition in key marginal seats, including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson, where he faces a tight race.
• This marks a significant shift in Australian federal election dynamics, highlighting the growing influence of minor parties under the preferential voting system.
• While not binding, how-to-vote cards play a critical role in shaping voter behavior, particularly in closely contested elections like the upcoming May 3 vote.