Feb 9 β€’ 21:58 UTC πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί Australia ABC News AU

One Nation is eyeing off Victoria, and that's a headache for the opposition

Victorian opposition faces challenges as One Nation gains traction among rural voters discontent with government policies.

In Victoria, the political landscape is shifting as One Nation, led by Barnaby Joyce, aims to capitalize on rural discontent against the Coalition government. During a recent conference, the opposition's National leader, Danny O'Brien, faced significant backlash from farmers voicing their anger over policies such as higher taxes and land use for renewable energy projects. This confusion indicates the Coalition's struggle to connect with its traditional support base in rural areas of Victoria.

The formation of the Across Victoria Alliance, spearheaded by grain grower Andrew Weidemann, highlights the collective frustration among farmers who feel neglected by the government. The issues at hand, including financial burdens from firefighting taxes and conflicts over land used for mining and renewable energy solutions, have become critical points of contention. This rural alliance seems poised to challenge the status quo, as many constituents perceive the opposition's responses as inadequate or dismissive.

As One Nation maneuvers to attract discontented rural voters, traditional Coalition MPs may find themselves under pressure to address these concerns more effectively. The anger expressed at the conference signals a pivotal moment for the opposition, suggesting that if they fail to reconcile the tensions within their voter base, they could lose critical support to rivals like One Nation, fundamentally reshaping Victoria's political dynamics leading into the elections.

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