Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sharply criticized One Nation's tactics following the party's by-election victory in Western Australia, accusing them of resorting to misinformation and divisive rhetoric to gain votes. However, an analysis suggests that Albanese's own government has employed similar strategies and broken significant election promises.
Albanese stated that One Nation "will say anything and do anything to win votes. Bend any facts. Peddle misinformation and disinformation. Turn Australian against Australian." This strong denunciation, however, draws parallels to Labor's past campaign methods and policy shifts since taking office. For instance, during the 2025 election campaign, Albanese repeatedly stated that negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount would not be changed. Yet, his government later restricted negative gearing to new builds and altered the capital gains tax discount system. Albanese acknowledged the shift, stating, "We have changed our position," a move that some interpret as a response to rising One Nation support.
The analysis points to several instances where the Labor government has been accused of bending facts or breaking promises. Before the 2022 election, Albanese declared Stage Three tax cuts were "absolutely locked in" and that his "word is my bond." These tax cuts were later rewritten after the election.
Labor's campaign tactics have also come under scrutiny. During the 2025 election, the party circulated a video of Peter Dutton that critics claimed was deceptively edited to make him appear to state, "Medicare is dead," when his actual remarks were about the need for sustainability. This video was authorized by Labor headquarters and used in paid advertising. Additionally, Labor advertisements falsely claimed Dutton intended to cut $350 billion from the budget, a figure disputed by fact-checkers. The party also promoted the claim that the Coalition intended to force aged pensioners onto a cashless debit card, an allegation that lacked evidence.
Further examples include Labor's campaign advertisements during the 2025 election that stated the Coalition's nuclear energy policy would cost $600 billion, a figure representing the extreme upper limit of a broader cost range. Albanese himself has faced accusations of misrepresenting economic figures, such as claiming Australians were $7,200 better off due to cost-of-living measures, a calculation that reportedly ignored inflation and used questionable wage assumptions. He also asserted the Coalition had "ripped" $30 billion from public schools, despite no evidence of funding falling, and claimed bulk billing was in "free fall" when the decline had accelerated under his own government.
The Prime Minister's approach to politics has also been characterized as framing issues as moral plays. His justification for changes to negative gearing reportedly pitted younger homebuyers against property investors. Furthermore, his defense of Western Australia's GST arrangements, while warning Canberra would "bear that in mind" for future funding, has been seen by some as using funding to pressure states. The analysis concludes that Albanese's criticism of One Nation, while entitled, is undermined by a pattern of broken promises and what is perceived as strategic use of information.
Labor lost to One Nation at a WA by-election in Perth's south over the weekend. Albanese's criticism followed this electoral setback. The analysis suggests that Albanese's condemnation of One Nation's tactics is hypocritical given his government's own record. He is accused of failing to acknowledge the "spectacular irony" when his actions contradict the standards he sets for others.
Albanese acknowledged the rising popularity of One Nation, which may have influenced his government's policy decisions. He also criticized One Nation's honesty after breaking key election promises.
