Perhaps its no surprise that Opposition Leader Angus Taylor would seek to jump on the orange bandwagon by cosying up to One Nation, and emulating Trump, since the PHONies recent surge in popularity and the Libs ever-plunging support.

It is surprising, however, given former Liberal Leader Peter Duttons Trumpian ways led to his devastating election loss when the Liberal Party he led at the time was throttled and he was unceremoniously evicted from his seat. It was the worst election result for the Coalition in 80 years. Since then, apart from his jobs-for-the-boysappointmentto theQueensland Investment Board,no one has seen or heard from Pete or asked his thoughts on much at all.

Angus latest Far-Right approach is also surprising given Labors ability to pick up all those centrist Liberal Party voters, often referred to as the Liberal Partys base, who have felt abandoned ever since Dutton parroted Trump.

It is also surprising, given the ability of the Teal Independents to gain so much ground in hitherto Liberal Party heartland.

Its perhaps even downright suicidal given predecessor Sussan Leys inability to hold the Coalition together and remain leader of the Libs, largely because of the Nats' hard-line Trumpianapproachto climate change, for instance.

And lets not forget that when SenatorPauline Hansonand her band of racists first burst onto the political stage in 1997, she had already been expelled by the Libs for racist comments about First Nations Australians.John Howard,for all his many faults and utterly unbearable though he was, at least had the good sense to put her horrid little Party last, despite its electoral success at the time.

After all, this was the time during which the Liberal Party at least still pretended to be a broad church.

Don't believe the News Corp bots, Pauline Hanson's One Nation failed dismally inSouth Australia and will continue to fail in every subsequent election.

The fact that One Nation would not even be enjoying its current electoral success were it not for the Coalition directing its preferences there appears to have been lost on Rhodes Scholar Taylor and hisfading Shadow Cabinet.

Nonetheless, apparently learning little from the bin-firethat is the slow and steady implosion of the party he now leads, Angus went for it on two frontsand to hell with the consequences! These can basically be summed up as, Lets openly and obviously favour the wealthy and throw the poor to the wolves.And then, lets blame foreigners!How very (ahem)original.Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus!

1. TAYLOR-ED FORTHE WEALTHY, THROWING POOR TO THE WOLVES

Taylor chose tooppose every single Government measure in hisbudget reply.

He also promised that, if elected, he would index the income tax scales to the inflation rate, which would cost approximately$250 billionin the first ten years alone.

As Stephen KoukoulaswroteonIA,it is a quaint idea that wont work because:

The Coalitions plan to index income tax scales to inflation may sound fair on paper, but critics argue it risks fuelling inflation, blowing out the budget and tying the RBA in knots.

It will create further bracket creep, increase inflation and only add to the budget deficit and government debt. But no matter. Rich people will still benefit and thats the main goal, of course. Fantastic. Great move. Well done, Angus!

Those already at the top end, like Taylor, whose personal property portfolio is so convoluted, it was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as 'opaque and labyrinthine'. The wealth of the Opposition Leaderand his one-percenter mates will continue to grow and will also be more secure. How unsurprising.

2. LETS BLAME FOREIGNERS

Then theres the hatred and othering a long-held weapon of the elites used to divide and conquer the masses.

Taylor, whose recent comments centred on whipping up as much fear and loathing as possible, as quickly as possible, lifted phrases straight from the One Nation playbook which are also lifted straight from the Trump Land playbook.

Buoyed by One Nations recent electoral success, Angus claimed he wanted to restore Australians'standard of livingandprotect our way of life and then pointed a well-used index finger at the proverbial, yet unspecified, migrant threat:

That covers, well, anyone at any given point in time.

Angus Taylor's immigration plan is inextricably linked to a Trumpian economic agenda.

This prompted Pauline topipe upwith something like, Hey, stop copying me!.

(Its unclear if Donald Trump has said words of similar effect to Pauline.)

Undeterred, Angus continued on his merry path of Far-Right populism, refusing to rule out forming government with One Nation and happily telling all who would listen that his door is always open to Pauline and her ramshackle group of misfits.

Asked by the media about Taylors latest diplomatic move, PM Albanesesaid:

The PM added:

Indeed, it appears there are.

This editorial wasoriginally publishedas part of the Independent Australia weekly newsletter.Subscribeto IA to access all our work from as little as $1.15 per week and help power our journalism throughout 2026.

Follow managing editorMichelle Pinion [email protected] Independent Australia on [email protected], X/Twitter@independentausand FacebookHERE.

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