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Australia politics live: James Paterson says One Nation needs ‘increased scrutiny’; minimum wage rate set today

THE GUARDIAN·1h ago·3 min read

Photograph via The Guardian

RSS SUMMARY · AGGREGATED FROM THE GUARDIAN

Shadow minister says the Coalition must treat minor party as an opponent, not an enemy. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJames Paterson, the shadow defence minister, says that One Nation’s “increased prominence” should bring “increased scrutiny”, brushing off suggestions from new party president Tony Abbott that the Liberals should not fight with parties to their political right.Paterson told the ABC on Monday night:One Nation are not our enemy but they are a political opponent, they are trying to take votes and seats off the Liberal Party.Their increased prominence in the polls, brings increased legitimate scrutiny on their performance, on their policies, on their candidates, on their conduct.It’s up to the parliamentary party to chart our own course, and I’m very clear about our role in this.It’s not really his role as party president, it’s an organisational role, his role is to rally the troops, to raise money, to get the campaign organisations fighting fit, I’m very pleased he’s put his hand up for that role, he’ll be outstanding in it. Continue reading…