Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson says it is too early to discuss potential preference arrangements between the Coalition and One Nation ahead of the next federal election.
Speaking on RN Breakfast, Paterson said the Coalition would not be in a position to make final decisions on preferences until candidates had been selected and nominated for each electorate.
“You cannot make a final decision about which candidates you’ll preference in each seat until you know who each of those candidates are,” Paterson said.
He argued that candidate quality remained an important consideration when determining preference allocations.
“Some political parties, like One Nation, have demonstrated great difficulty in choosing appropriate candidates for public office in the past,” he said.
Paterson said discussions about preference deals were therefore premature at this stage of the electoral cycle.
He also rejected the idea of a nationwide arrangement guaranteeing preferences.
“Paterson added the Coalition would ‘never’ do deals on a national basis where they guarantee preferences.”
The shadow minister further questioned One Nation’s readiness for the next election campaign.
“I think, frankly, One Nation has a lot of work to do to get themselves into a fit state to contest the election,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing political discussion about the Coalition’s future relationship with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and how preferences may be allocated at the next election.