# Hanson emerges as de facto opposition leader at CPAC

> Pauline Hanson overshadowed Angus Taylor at a conservative conference in Brisbane, signalling One Nation's willingness to work with the Liberals to defeat Labor.
- Title: Hanson emerges as de facto opposition leader at CPAC
- Summary: Pauline Hanson overshadowed Angus Taylor at a conservative conference in Brisbane, signalling One Nation's willingness to work with the Liberals to defeat…
- Keywords: pauline hanson, angus taylor, one nation, liberal party, cpac, australian politics, opposition leadership, conservative voters, news, politics, Hanson, emerges
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/11/cpac-conference-pauline-hanson-angus-taylor-one-nation-liberals-cooperation-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-10T19:00:09+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: pauline hanson, angus taylor, one nation, liberal party, cpac, australian politics, opposition leadership, conservative voters, news, politics
## Three conservative parties pitch at CPAC
The Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane on Saturday brought together leaders of the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation to compete for rightwing voters.
## Hanson emerges as preferred opposition leader
Pauline Hanson received a standing ovation before even walking on stage, while Angus Taylor, still leader of the second-largest bloc in parliament, struggled with the crowd.
## Taylor and Hanson share equal billing
Taylor's office called his opening address a keynote, but CPAC advertised all three leaders as co-headliners. Hanson leads a party room of five others.
## Hanson has led all year while Taylor struggled
Hanson has operated as de facto opposition leader through twenty twenty-six, filling a void left by Taylor who has struggled for mainstream cut-through and political oxygen.
## Taylor apologises for Coalition mistakes
Taylor began with a mea culpa, apologising for his role in immigration increases, pandemic spending and net zero, saying the Coalition made mistakes but were now unashamedly on the right.

> made mistakes
## Taylor announces immigration crackdown
Taylor announced net overseas migration would rise from one hundred thousand to one hundred sixty thousand under the Coalition plan, but the crowd booed the proposal.
## Hanson signals openness to cooperation
Hanson criticised the Coalition and called Taylor a smarmy management consultant, but repeatedly signalled her keenness for rightwing parties to cooperate to defeat Labor.

> smarmy management consultant
## Hanson rules out formal coalition arrangement
In a press conference, Hanson said she didn't want ministry positions for One Nation in a Coalition government, nor would she accept Coalition ministers in a One Nation government.
## Cooperation depends on Taylor's next move
Asked if One Nation would continue beating up the Liberals or if cooperation might emerge, Hanson said it was up to Angus Taylor to decide what happens next.

> up to Angus Taylor
## Key takeaway

Pauline Hanson received a standing ovation at CPAC in Brisbane while Angus Taylor struggled with a sceptical crowd, suggesting One Nation has become the preferred opposition force among conservative voters.