Liberals creating a rod for their back with preference deal

November 11, 2026 — 8:00pm

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The Victoria Coalition has made a serious strategic mistake (“Liberals to put Labor, Greens last”, 11/11). Not in terms of the election outcome with Jess Wilson, according to the polls, certain to be Victoria’s next premier. Rather, by threatening its prospects of being in government beyond a single term.
Adopting the “default position to preference One Nation”, the Opposition has almost certainly guaranteed that Pauline Hanson’s party will have lower house seats and, crucially, will hold the balance of power in the Legislative Council. Previous election outcomes, notably in the Queensland state election in 1998, show that One Nation is incapable of holding together an angry, disparate group.
The Coalition is creating a rod for its own back once in government. Goodness knows what it will have to agree to in order to govern, almost certainly ending in tears.
James Young, Mt Eliza

Holding balance of power a disaster
Jess Wilson’s decision to preference One Nation will be especially problematic for Liberal urban moderates (including in her own seat of Kew). One Nation policies to scrap net zero, expand coal-fired power stations, ban renewable installations on agricultural land, revive native forest logging and end the nuclear ban (and build a nuclear reactor) are all evidence of a mindset firmly rooted in the past. Preferencing One Nation might be a fail-safe for the Liberals, but if elected, Wilson can only hope these preferences don’t result in One Nation winning (more than) enough seats in a hung parliament to acquire the balance of power. That would be an unmitigated disaster for the state of Victoria.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne

May turn to federal Labor advantage
The Coalition edges closer to a Faustian bargain that would see it in an alliance to share government in Victoria with One Nation (″⁣Liberals to put Labor, Greens last″⁣, 11/11). The only winner out of this arrangement could be federal Labor, given there will be ample time for the Victorian electorate to experience how such an arrangement could result in a chaos. The price to pay for such a partnership could mean the Coalition may have to accede to some extreme demands from their chosen governing partners to maintain the alliance. This could give the wider electorate an illustration of the dangers of putting in power such a conglomerate brought about primarily by the Coalition quest to share power at any cost.
Bill Pimm, Mentone

Political expediency over integrity
I have lost all respect for the Liberal Party since they announced that they are going to preference One Nation above other parties. It smacks of political expediency over integrity. With our voting system, preferences do have a big impact. I am astounded that after all the information about One Nation candidates and their policies have been exposed and reported in the media, the Liberals have stooped to this. Bring in the first past the post voting system.
Susan Simpson, Surrey Hills

A vote gone with this announcement
I have given serious thought to voting Liberal (for the first time ever) because I am disgusted by the failure of Labor to rein in corruption on major projects, and because my local MP’s office (Matthew Guy) have been very helpful on an issue I raised with them. But Jess Wilson’s decision to preference One Nation has sent me hurtling away from them. It’s only one little vote, but they blew it. By their friends ye shall know them.
Stephen Yolland, Templestowe

A recipe for chaos
To those correspondents who say such things as Victoria needs a reboot (Letters, 11/11), I say be careful what you wish for – think of the four years of inertia during the Baillieu-Napthine period, and add One Nation into the mix controlling the upper house. A recipe for chaos.
Brandon Mack, Deepdene

THE FORUM

Rethink school funding
Thank you Adam Voigt for your sensible appraisal of public-funded schooling as a viable choice for your child (Comment, 11/11). While state and federal governments indicate that funding will improve for Victorian public schools, currently the most poorly funded nationally, this won’t occur until 2034. Meanwhile our schooling system will continue to deteriorate while governments of all persuasions continue to fund the private sector at a higher rate per child than the public sector. Surely how and where your children are educated, and by whom, is a critical decision and one that needs more discussion and advocacy by parents. It’s not to late to recalibrate education in Australia so that it benefits everyone.
Denise Stevens, St Kilda

Follow Canada’s lead
Adam Voigt says that in Canada 92 per cent of children go to public schools and that schools function as a piece of civil infrastructure, not a market. If they can do it surely we can.
If, like many of us, your taxes are going to private schools that you couldn’t afford to send your kids to, or that have values you wouldn’t want your kids indoctrinated in, think about it when you vote.
Kym Tonkin, Preston

Outsourcing’s human toll
The revolutionary “brave new world” of AI brings a two-edged sword of gain and loss to the consequent upheaval of capital and labour. Those who benefit call it “progress” and those who don’t, the human toll, call it all manner of things, none of which are favourable.
And so it is with Qantas outsourcing 850 Australian jobs to India, “modernising the technology behind our business and becoming more efficient, so we can keep investing in our customers, our people and our future”. Such rosy corporate spin doesn’t mention those who stand to gain the most – shareholders, workers in India, and Qantas CEOs. Nor does it mention those who are the human toll of others’ lucrative progress. Although Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson does acknowledge, “I know this is hard news for some and I’m sorry for the uncertainty it brings.” Cold comfort no doubt for the “some” losing their jobs.
Deborah Morrison, Malvern East

Labor must act
The article ″⁣Bracket creep to hit lowest paid hardest″⁣ (11/11) reopens the question of reducing the reliance on income taxes and broader tax reform.
The Coalition’s tax indexation policy is a sleight of hand as it tempts voters with claims of tax cuts but is merely a steady as she goes approach while avoiding the tougher question of what do we do about burgeoning government expenditure driven by health and welfare services for an ageing population.
Increasing the GST, cutting taxes for the lowest paid, increasing pensions while indexing middle-income earners’ tax rates and reforming corporate tax has to occur. Otherwise the federal Labor government will, to paraphrase Paul Keating, ″⁣be a political carcass swingin’ in the breeze″⁣.
Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale

Dilemma of truth
While the sandpaper scandal eight years ago remains a stain on Australian cricket, reopening the investigation will not remove that stain nor will it resolve the variations in truth telling from those who were there. When a person in authority (CA in this case) attempts to find out exactly what happened, who was involved directly and indirectly, it is common to get two versions of the truth. This is the case from the rushed investigation at the time and the later statements from certain players.
Given it’s now eight years, the chance of everyone recalling the same truth is as likely as someone matching Bradman’s batting average. CA CEO Todd Greenberg ruled out reopening the investigation and was “comfortable” with its actions (Editorial, 11/11). CA should have embarked on a more thorough investigation immediately after the Test series. They seemed satisfied with a rushed one.
Sometimes finding the precise truth is not the most important thing in the time of a crisis, rather an opportunity to grow and change. That has certainly been the case for the Australian cricket team who have redefined their culture and are still winning regularly.
David Twite, East Melbourne

Kids, trust the adult
The AFP’s Paula Hudson is asking young Australians who are embracing extremism ideas to turn to trusted adults rather than AI chatbots. I doubt that these young men (and it seems to be mainly males) would trust any adult. Pity hate laws have been shelved due to the Nationals and Greens objections.
Marie Nash, Balwyn

Wherefore Victoria?
Good luck to the Liberals with their preferences for the election. By choosing to preference One Nation they are clearly indicating they don’t care about the people of Victoria, only about winning. Yet the alleged corruption involving the Big Build while Labor has been in office cannot be ignored.
Victorians go to the election with a Hobson’s Choice in a few weeks. Sad that our progressive, tolerant state has come to this.
Cheryl Day, Beaumaris

DJs the interloper
If, God forbid, we are faced with the demise of Myers in the future, I wonder if Sydney residents will be treated to the same feast of nostalgia that we Melburnians have been fed about the turmoil at David Jones. While its decline is regrettable, David Jones nostalgia is mainly Sydney-centric. It’s hardly been the focus of long-gone Melbourne memories. When I was growing up in Melbourne there were no David Jones Christmas windows to marvel at, only Myers. The store next to Myers in Bourke St then was Buckley and Nunn. To me David Jones, when it arrived in Melbourne, was just an over-priced import.
Mike Smith, Sandringham

Consider the young
It is unfair and selfish of those living in the older established suburbs to reject high-rise developments.
High-rise housing along transport corridors is the best way to slow the sprawl that blows out the infrastructure costs of the housing our younger generations desperately need. I understand the reluctance of the green leafy suburbs to see high-rise accommodation but we need to consider the younger generations. If suburbs want to reject high rise, those who enjoy the comforts should be prepared to pay significant additional levies for the privilege and these levies should be used to support the new housing.
Michael Fewster, Adelaide

Big ideas please
The ″⁣thinness″⁣ of the political debate being espoused by Jess Wilson and Warren Pickering seriously worries me. Such simple offerings disguised as solutions in no way draws the state forward. To ″⁣fix″⁣ this and to ″⁣complain″⁣ about ″⁣that″⁣ simply doesn’t cut it. Where are the big ideas, the state building ideas? Despite the fact that the Big Build may have been executed poorly and has cost us money, my sons and grandsons will be physically reaping the benefits for years to come.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson

Fighting nonsense
Come on, Jess Wilson, with all the criticism of budget blowouts and the issues that need fixing, you want to blow millions of dollars bringing cage fighting and wrestling to Melbourne? This state has no need to emulate Donald Trump with his cage fighting on the White House lawn. Criticise the government for wasting taxes, tell us how you will fix the economy, but don’t come out with nonsense to pander to a minority.
Stuart Perry, Longford

Mental health funding
The notion that deinstitutionalisation has failed (Letters, 11/11) gives a mixed message. Closing the large institutions for marginalised and stigmatised Victorians with mental illnesses was necessary on humanitarian grounds. However, state governments of both persuasions have instead seen the action as a cost-saving measure and have failed abysmally to fund proper support services for people living in the community and provide adequate short-term acute services. What is required is not the re-establishment of large institutions but rather well-funded and staffed community-based services to support and assist people with chronic or acute mental health issues.
John Annison, Lilydale

Protest vote doubts
It is disconcerting and sad that a percentage of the public seems to think that a protest vote for One Nation and against the major parties will somehow solve their grievances. One Nation likes to blame, complain and be critical of the government and opposition without offering any solutions or answers. It is a party aligning itself with oligarchs and following in the footsteps of (the now derailed) Donald Trump. I wonder if those people who are so enamoured with One Nation are actually aware of what they are doing? Do they seek simple answers to highly complex questions or problems? Are they that naive or ignorant and misinformed? Perhaps there is a sense of self-entitlement, or they have become so entwined in the ″⁣me″⁣ culture that they cannot see beyond themselves or even their hip pocket?
Tad Zagorski, Whittlesea

Throttle this back
If an electric bike or e-scooter has a throttle that allows higher speeds than pedalling, why are they permitted to use shared cycle and walking paths?
Vivienne Whitehead, Paynesville

Cromwell’s message
As Oliver Cromwell said to the British parliament, “You have sat too long here for any good you have done. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you.“
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

AND ANOTHER THING

Qantas
While Qantas shifts another 850 jobs offshore, perhaps it’s time to remove the Spirit of Australia name from its carriers.
Annie Wilson, Inverloch

Jobs sent overseas. This is surely not ″⁣the Spirit of Australia″⁣, Qantas. We ″⁣Still call Australia Home″⁣.
Ron Stone. Kangaroo Flat

That Qantas, “The Australian Airline”, is to move jobs to India as part of an agreement with Accenture is appalling. It makes a mockery of their theme song We still call Australia Home.
Petrushka Owen, Hawthorn

If all goes well, Qantas will soon end up providing air services in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Dick Danckert, Torquay

What’s happened to ″⁣Made in Australia″⁣?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood

Politics
The Liberals can no longer deny that a vote for them is a vote for One Nation.
Ian Taylor, Torquay

Can’t wait for the Liberal-One Nation coalition. It should go down a treat in Toorak and Mount Eliza.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

It seems the forthcoming election hinges on whether centre-right Liberals preference unhinged One Nation ahead of rusty Labor.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading

This preference alliance will give Victoria a pothole the size of an open-cut mine.
Belinda Burke, Hawthorn

The LNP obviously didn’t watch last Sunday’s 60 minutes before deciding to preference One Nation.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor

The fact that the Liberals would prefer One Nation to Labor is absolutely frightening. Is there any viable way to ensure that none of them win?
Les Aisen, Elsternwick

Finally
Cricket Australia seems to be very adept at playing the sweep-it-under-the-carpet shot.
John Rawson, Mernda

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