Speculation is growing that former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi could be the next high-profile recruit to One Nation following his recent public endorsement of the party.
Bernardi, who quit the Liberal Party in 2017 to form his own conservative movement before leaving the Senate in 2020, praised One Nation’s progress in a Substack post last week. He said he was “lending my shoulder to the ON wheel”.
The post was shared online by former Coalition MP George Christensen in recent days.
In an email to supporters last week, One Nation chief of staff James Ashby said the party would soon reveal “some very big names” joining its ranks. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has also suggested further defections from the Coalition.
Sydney radio station 2GB reported rumours that Bernardi could run for One Nation in South Australia. Pauline Hanson’s office declined to comment when contacted, and Bernardi has also been approached for comment.
