In light of the federal opposition’s keen support for state censorship many are considering switching their vote to a minor party on the right. Some are considering going a step further and joining a party. If that’s you it’s important to join the one that most aligns. I have had a consistently high regard for Pauline Hanson since before she was elected in 1996. I often meet One Nation members around NSW. I always enjoy the conversation.
One Nation is the best of what the National Party once was. The Libertarian Party is the best of what the Liberal Party once was. One Nation and the Libertarian Party do have significant overlap.
- Scepticism of the 'climate change' orthodoxy.
- Anti-woke
- Pro small business
- National defence
- Anti-censorship, digital ID, WHO pandemic treaty, etc.
The macro difference between the Libertarian Party and every other political party (including One Nation) is they assume if we just get better politicians elected the government will work fine. Libertarians also want to get elected but our preoccupation then is to seriously shrink the power of the state (Javier Milei style). At the outset of COVID, libertarians around world (including Australia) were immediately conspicuous in publicly warning it was a hysteria. It was a mostly lonely place for the first year.
One Nation is a commonsense party which often requires time to see where the common sense consensus is. Libertarians are an ideological party. Our policies are shaped by consistent principles which allow us to work out the right conclusion quickly (even when it's politically difficult).
Here are some areas where we differ:
- Free Trade
- State Spending
- Privatisation
- Free Speech
- Industrial Relations
- Immigration
- Foreign Policy
- Conclusion
1. Free Trade
One Nation’s says: ‘Free Trade Agreements that function against the best interest of Australians must also be scrapped. Import tariffs should be reimplemented on select countries to protect Australia's remaining industry and manufacturing while safeguarding homegrown jobs and wage levels.’
Libertarians support a unilateral declaration of free trade with the world. If a nation doesn’t reciprocate they are only harming themselves. We know that tariffs prop up inefficient industries and deprive us of competition and innovation.
2. State Spending
One Nation supports the state financing, ‘nation-building infrastructure projects including water, rail, roads, and energy.’ They also support bailing out farmers during droughts etc.
Libertarians know the private sector will build better infrastructure at a lower price.
Libertarians see farms as a business … and we will never support taxpayer's bailouts of a business.
3. Privatisation
One Nation is adamantly opposed to privatisation of government assets.
Libertarians support privatisation … we know a business will perform better when it is a profit-driven entity and not a government department.
We do not however support fake ‘privatisations’ which results in a private entity protected from competition by excessive regulation (that’s crony capitalism).
4. Free Speech
One Nation has the right instincts on free speech and we are grateful for their recent advocacy on this front ... but the real test for free speech purists are the edge cases.
State and federal parliaments have in recent years debated banning displays of the swastika. One Nation voted in favour of that ban but Libertarians have voted against.
5. Industrial Relations
One Nation supports an active role for the state in the relationship between employers and employees.
Libertarians want to liberate workplaces entirely from clumsy state interference which distorts what’s best for both parties.
6. Immigration
One Nation supports net-zero immigration … which I assume means we should only permit the same number of migrants in as Aussies who permanently leave.
Libertarians share One Nation’s concerns around the record-setting immigration we currently have. We know the government is pumping up our migrant intake to keep the economy out of recession … even though we are in a per-capita recession.
The paramount rule for immigration should be that it benefits us. Generally speaking, libertarians welcome skilled migrants … but we favour a system where either the migrant or their sponsoring employer pays a significant fee.
7. Foreign Policy
One Nation is not actively engaged in foreign policy debate.
Libertarians are non-interventionists. We are strictly apolitical in the affairs of other nations. We seek trade and goodwill with all peoples.
If we could click our fingers and turn North Korea into a liberal democracy we’d be thrilled … but outside military interventions so often inflame already bad situations.
In most cases, we are better off letting the locals sort out their squabbles. We support private charities providing humanitarian aid.
8. Conclusion
If you have read this far you should consider becoming a member of one of these good parties. Hopefully we will form government together one day. You can join our party at this link.
If this post has made you curious about libertarianism you should check out Milton Friedman on YouTube. He won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1976 and is probably the most persuasive communicator of small government to the layman.