Australia’s Conservatives Are Cynically Courting the Far Right — and It’s Starting to Backfire

By
Lisbeth Latham

Just as John Howard pitched to the right to attract One Nation voters, Australia’s Scott Morrison is cravenly trying to win over far-right voters today. The danger is that the tactic will backfire, fracturing the Coalition and encouraging a far-right movement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Attends Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA Business Breakfast

Scott Morrison in Perth, Australia after a speech to the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on March 16, 2022. (Matt Jelonek / Getty Images)

Throughout the pandemic, the Liberal and National Parties stepped up their appeals to political forces associated with the Australian and US far right. It’s a cynical strategy with numerous precedents in the history of the Australian center-right, which has long competed with the far-right for electoral space.

However, this orientation was about more than simply chasing votes. It also revealed a shift taking place within the Coalition parties themselves. Attempting to relate to the far right has, over time, pulled the Liberal and National Parties further to the right. And at the same time, these efforts have helped to normalize far-right politics and build its appeal among parts of the center-right’s constituency.

Dog Whistling to Trumpian Anti-Vaxxers

In late 2021, the anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination movement was growing in size and militancy. Increasingly, these protests often featured openly violent rhetoric toward Australian Labor Party (ALP) state premiers. Far from condemning the anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown movement, even when issuing mild criticisms, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was at pains to express his sympathy with the protesters. For example when protesters a carried mock gallows with a picture of Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, rather than condemn the protest, Morrison was careful to note that “of course, there are many people who are feeling frustrated.”

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