‘Give them a go’: Liberal candidate advises vote for One Nation in upper house

A Liberal Party candidate in a critical Victorian battleground seat advised voters to support One Nation for the upper house during a recent canvassing session, creating immediate friction within the opposition ranks ahead of the state election. The incident occurred five weeks before polling day and presents a new challenge for Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, who is currently urging voters to elect a Coalition government outright. This strategy aims to counter Labor attacks that link the conservative political movements together. The controversy centers on Simmone Cottom, the Liberal candidate for the seat of Sunbury. A recording captured last weekend shows Cottom engaging with a voter regarding the potential for a coalition with One Nation. When asked about her stance, Cottom noted that both One Nation leader Warren Pickering and herself had stated a desire to win independently. She explained that preference nominations remain open until November 9, after which the party would finalize its preferences. Under further questioning, Cottom explicitly encouraged changing the government. She instructed the voter to cast ballots for Liberals in the lower house and One Nation in the upper house. When the voter confirmed whether she was advocating for One Nation, Cottom reiterated the advice, suggesting that if a voter truly desired One Nation representation, they should give the party a chance in the upper chamber. After the voter expressed disinterest in supporting Pauline Hanson’s party, Cottom shifted focus back to her own party. She emphasized the goal of winning in their own right and stated that she personally did not maintain a relationship with One Nation. She asserted confidence that the Coalition could secure victory without requiring assistance from the other group. Following the release of the recording, Cottom issued a statement expressing regret for her remarks. She acknowledged that she should not have made the suggestion and clarified that it did not reflect official party policy. She reaffirmed the objective of securing votes for Liberal and National candidates in both houses of parliament. This episode adds pressure to Wilson, who has faced persistent inquiries regarding the Coalition's approach to One Nation. Wilson has consistently maintained that voting for Coalition members of parliament is the sole method to replace the current three-term Labor government. Separately, the Liberal Party intervened in a second matter involving internal alignment. It emerged that Ann-Marie Hermans, a sitting Liberal upper house member, had been listed as a guest speaker for a fundraiser benefiting Caroline White. White is an independent candidate contesting the seat of Clarinda. The event featured other speakers including Libertarian MP David Limbrick and Albert Park independent Adrian King. The situation created confusion because the Liberal Party had endorsed John Paganis as its candidate for Clarinda, a seat currently held by Labor’s Meng Heang Tak. An anonymous Liberal candidate described the arrangement as problematic, stating that Paganis would likely feel annoyed and confused by the presence of a fellow party member at a rival’s fundraising event. Hermans withdrew from the event on Saturday after media inquiries questioned the appropriateness of her attendance. A Liberal Party spokesperson confirmed that Hermans would not attend. The spokesperson stated that Hermans is actively supporting Paganis and is focused on assisting the effort to elect a Liberal and Nationals government on November 28. Historical voting patterns in Clarinda show some prior cooperation between the parties. White previously contested the seat in 2022 and placed the Liberal candidate high on her preference list, an arrangement the party reciprocated. During that election, both candidates ranked the Labor candidate last on their how-to-vote cards. Cottom brings previous electoral experience to the Sunbury campaign. She previously sought office in the same state seat during the 2022 state election. Additionally, she ran for the federal seat of Hawke in the 2025 federal election. The upcoming state election is scheduled for November 28. The period leading up to the vote involves intense campaigning as major parties seek to consolidate support in seats perceived as vulnerable to third-party influence. The Liberal Party continues to emphasize its capacity to form a government without reliance on external partners, even as individual candidates navigate complex local dynamics. The interaction between established parties and emerging independents remains a focal point for voters and strategists alike in the final weeks of the campaign.