Liberals Target One Nation in Nepean Byelection

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome in. This is Sydney News today, where local news meets AI. In the Netbian by-election set for May 2nd, liberal candidate Anthony Marsh looks like a lock to win since labor is sitting it out. But the party is firing shots at one nation and independent Tracy Hutchison, marking the first real clash with the rising minor party on victorious. Right flank after their strong show in South Australia. This week, liberals dropped an orange leaflet warning that a one nation vote hands power to labor come November without their usual blue branding. They followed up with a pink one, slamming Hutchison as Jacinta Allen's secret pick, dredging up old stories linking her to labor talks and her views. On Australia Day and the flag. One nation's Darren Herk is called it amusing desperation, boasting nearly 400 members on the peninsula. Hutchison fired back that the lazy digs on her past opinions and personal life just prove why she is running, stressing her long-time local roots and no current labor ties.

1:02Inside the liberals, state president Phil Davis insists they win from the center, not by going one nation light, sparking backlash from hardliners like Peta Kredlin. Polls show one nation at 11%, coalitions support down to 30% and labor flat at 28, with her mere Allen trying to tie. The opposition to one nation style. This test in a traditionally liberal seat, flipped briefly in the 2018 landslide, but reclaimed in 2022 with a 6.4% margin hints at strategies for November's state poll where liberals aim to stop the bleed and grab power.