Thirty years on, the Coalition has no idea what to do about One Nation

If you must answer a question about how large One Nation or the Coalition will be after the election, defer to the electors.

Australia now resembles most other countries in having a multiparty rather than a two-party system. The Coalition is running to win as many seats as it can. Once the electors deliver their verdict, it will address the parliament they have chosen.

One last lesson comes from Queensland.

Until the merger of the Liberals and Nationals, Queensland had two large non-Labor parties competing against each other, generally, but not always, collegially. On at least two occasions, in 1989 and 2006, the Liberal leader’s decision to talk about post-election arrangements blew up the campaign for both parties.

Sort it out now. Internalise the position, make the mantras reflexive, and enforce discipline.

Labor and the Greens are the greatest threat to Australia, not One Nation.