Liberal deputy leader offers mixed praise as former PM adviser defects to One Nation amid rising right-wing competition.
Acting Opposition Leader Jane Hume has described One Nation leader Pauline Hanson as “very lucky” to have secured a senior staffer from the government of former prime minister Scott Morrison as her new chief of staff, while drawing a firm line against any personal or party switch in allegiance.
The comments came after reports that Chris Taylor, who served as general counsel and senior adviser to Morrison, had been appointed to the role in Hanson’s office. The move frees long-serving One Nation operative James Ashby to take up the position of party director, focusing on national operations, advertising, fundraising and digital campaigning ahead of a series of state and federal contests.
Hume, responding to questions about the appointment, said: “Pauline Hanson is very lucky to have him. But for me you can’t change football teams. I barrack for St Kilda. I don’t think I could ever find myself barracking for Collingwood.” The sporting analogy underscored her loyalty to the Liberal Party even as she acknowledged Taylor’s capabilities.
One Nation Names New Chief of Staff as Coalition Talent Shifts:
The appointment represents another high-profile transfer of talent from the Coalition orbit to One Nation, which has gained ground in recent polling and is positioning itself as a stronger force on the Australian right. One Nation confirmed Taylor would take over day-to-day parliamentary responsibilities previously handled by Ashby. In a statement, Taylor said he had spent his career tackling difficult problems across government, business and politics.
Hanson praised Ashby’s decade-plus contribution, saying he had helped build the party’s campaign machinery from the ground up and would now be placed “where he could have the greatest impact in the elections ahead.” The party is preparing for contests including the New South Wales state election, the Victorian election, a Western Australian by-election and the next federal poll.
The development comes against a backdrop of ongoing speculation about the relationship between the Liberal-National Coalition and One Nation. Hume has previously stated that the Coalition would not form a governing arrangement with One Nation, emphasising that the Liberals and Nationals plan to continue governing together as they have for decades. At the same time, she has declined to rule out all forms of cooperation in scenarios where the Coalition falls short of a majority, reflecting the fluid parliamentary arithmetic that has characterised recent Australian politics.
Coalition Staffer Move Boosts One Nation:
Taylor’s background includes advising Morrison through significant periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic response, and later work in the banking sector. His move has been framed by some observers as part of a broader pattern of Coalition figures and staff gravitating towards One Nation as the minor party capitalises on public discontent over cost-of-living pressures, immigration and other issues.
For the Liberal Party, still recovering from electoral setbacks and navigating internal leadership dynamics under Angus Taylor with Hume as deputy, the loss of experienced personnel highlights the competitive pressure from the right. One Nation has sought to present itself as a more assertive alternative on conservative priorities, while the Coalition has worked to reclaim voters who have shifted support.
Hume’s remarks strike a careful balance: recognising professional competence without endorsing any formal alignment. The episode illustrates the talent flows and rhetorical manoeuvring that define Australia’s fragmented right-of-centre politics as parties prepare for successive electoral tests.
The appointment is expected to strengthen One Nation’s organisational capacity in parliament and on the campaign trail, at a time when the party continues to expand its footprint and challenge the traditional major-party duopoly.