Liberal Party member quits over direction, days after One Nation fundraiser appearance

Colleen Harkin, a former federal Liberal candidate and education director at the conservative Institute of Public Affairs, has resigned from the Liberal Party following her attendance at a One Nation fundraiser in Melbourne.

Ms Harkin, who previously stood as the Liberal candidate for the Victorian seat of Macnamara, attended the One Nation event in South Melbourne on 12 June before announcing her departure from the party a week later.

Praise for One Nation gathering sparks party departure

Speaking on ABC Radio Melbourne's Mornings programme on Friday, Ms Harkin described her experience at the One Nation fundraiser in notably positive terms, highlighting the "very high energy positive feel" of the event and expressing surprise at the demographic composition of attendees.

"A lot of people I spoke with had not really been politically engaged before and were just concerned about the direction of the country and the tenor of the country," Ms Harkin told presenter Raf Epstein.

Ms Harkin challenged assumptions about One Nation's voter base, noting that attendees did not fit the stereotype often attributed to the party's supporters. She observed that many participants held tertiary qualifications and came from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, contradicting what she characterised as lazy assumptions about the movement.

Long-standing concerns about Liberal direction

In her resignation statement, Ms Harkin indicated that her departure reflected deeper frustrations with the Liberal Party's trajectory rather than a sudden decision prompted by the fundraiser alone.

"I have been concerned about the party's direction for years," she said, suggesting that internal party divisions and policy shifts have contributed to her decision to leave.

The departure comes at a time of ongoing tension within Australia's centre-right political landscape, with various figures expressing dissatisfaction with the Liberal Party's positioning on issues ranging from climate policy to economic management.

Broader implications for Victoria's political landscape

Ms Harkin's resignation highlights the fluid nature of political allegiance in contemporary Australian politics, particularly in Victoria where electoral competition between the Liberals and emerging conservative movements has intensified.

As director of education at the Institute of Public Affairs, Ms Harkin has maintained a public profile on policy matters. Her transition away from the Liberal Party may signal broader concerns within conservative intellectual circles about the party's ability to retain support among educated, professionally engaged voters.

The incident also underscores One Nation's ongoing efforts to broaden its political appeal beyond its traditional electoral base, particularly in urban centres such as Melbourne where the party has historically struggled to gain traction.

Source: ABC News