Mark Butler dismisses One Nation’s $2.7m fundraising haul as Jane Hume cites voter anger

Labor has sought to downplay One Nation’s extraordinary fundraising haul after the party raised more than $2.7 million in the wake of Anthony Albanese’s challenge for supporters to donate $27 to campaign against Pauline Hanson.

The fundraising drive has attracted more than 28,000 donors in just 24 hours, with One Nation claiming the average contribution was $59. But Health Minister Mark Butler dismissed suggestions the result represented a major political shift, arguing the bigger story was the evolving relationship between the Coalition and minor conservative parties ahead of the next election.

“At the end of the day, these online fundraising campaigns are pretty common,” Mr Butler told Sunrise.

“This will probably pale in comparison to the money that One Nation receives from a billionaire like Gina Rinehart.”

Pressed on whether millions of dollars raised from tens of thousands of Australians reflected growing voter frustration, Mr Butler insisted the focus should instead be on what he described as a reshaping of the conservative side of politics.

“What we’re seeing here is a remaking of the Coalition with some different faces, but the same agenda,” he said.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jane Hume took a very different view, arguing the fundraising surge reflected widespread dissatisfaction with Labor’s economic management and cost-of-living pressures.

“No wonder Australians are angry,” Senator Hume said.

“Anthony Albanese has lied to them directly to their face, so has Jim Chalmers, and they have seen their standard of living go backwards so far and so fast.”

Senator Hume said Australians were “poorer now today than you were four years ago” and accused Labor of preparing to increase taxes while allowing real wages to decline.

The debate comes as Pauline Hanson calls in auditors to review the fundraising campaign after the Prime Minister publicly questioned aspects of One Nation’s funding operation.

While refusing to speculate on future preference deals with One Nation, Senator Hume said the Coalition was focused on presenting its own economic agenda before the next election.

The fundraising controversy has quickly become one of the biggest political flashpoints of the week, fuelling renewed scrutiny of campaign funding, voter discontent and the growing influence of minor parties.