Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s attacks on One Nation have paid off spectacularly, with the latest Newspoll showing voters returning to Labor instead.
The poll has Labor back on top with 33% of the primary vote, ahead of One Nation on 29%, while the Coalition has collapsed to 17%.
Coalition insiders say Hastie is simply following the proud Malcolm Turnbull tradition of doing everything Labor could possibly want while technically remaining a Liberal MP.
“Malcolm showed there was no better way to destroy the Liberal Party than from inside the Liberal Party,” one source said. “Andrew appears to have taken excellent notes.”
Hastie has denied being a Labor plant, insisting he is merely helping Labor by accident, which senior Liberals admit is now the party’s main campaign strategy.
At press time, the Coalition was preparing to attack the Greens in the hope of securing Labor another term.