Two-times Nationals candidate for Richmond, Kimberly Hone has thrown her support behind the Coalition parties going their seperate ways for now, saying it will ultimately benefit them both and the broader community.
Hone, who has indicated she intends to seek Nationals preselection for a third run, believes the division between the Nationals and the Liberal Party was inevitable due to diverging values, disunity, and the Liberals’ poor performance.
“I’m incredibly thrilled about the decision,” Hone said.
“The Liberal Party cost us this campaign in Richmond. The clearest message from voters—whether left or right—was that they didn’t want Peter Dutton.”
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‘Vote Kimberly, Get Dutton’: A Message That Stuck
Hone said Labor effectively used Dutton’s unpopularity to undermine her campaign. “Labor targeted me with a black-and-white flyer that said: ‘Vote Kimberly, Get Dutton.’ It was delivered across the electorate. At polling booths, their signs just said ‘keep Dutton out.’ It was relentless and it stuck.”
While she acknowledges that Dutton introduced some strong policies during the campaign, Hone said his inconsistency was damaging.
“He proposed some great ideas. We were briefed, we were ready to go out and fight for them and I did. But then he’d backtrack, often quickly. That left us as candidates in an impossible position. We were expected to defend policies that weren’t being backed by our own leadership.”
A Disconnect on Policy and Poor Messaging
One issue Hone said exemplified the Coalition’s challenges during the campaign was the policy on remote work for public servants. While some Nationals leaders cited it as a factor in the loss of the seat of Bendigo in particular, Hone disagrees when it comes to Richmond.
“That issue never came up once,” she said. “I was on polling booths every day, speaking to voters across the political spectrum -even volunteers from other parties. No one mentioned it.”
She said the policy itself wasn’t necessarily flawed, but its rollout and explanation were.
“It was intended to apply to Canberra-based public servants in federal institutions, where remote work just doesn’t suit the bureaucratic structure. But that message was never communicated properly. Instead of clarifying, Dutton reversed course.”
Hone believes this failure to explain and defend policies was a broader problem for the Coalition during the campaign. “The public is open to bold ideas if you take the time to explain them and stick by them. Backing down under pressure just shows weakness.”
She contrasted that with her decision to advocate for nuclear energy -a controversial issue in a region known for its strong environmental focus.
“I’ve hosted multiple nuclear information events across Richmond. Hundreds of people attended. That shows people are willing to engage if you treat them with respect and speak honestly.”
Standing Firm on Regional Priorities
Hone strongly supports the four key priorities that Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Page MP Kevin Hogan cited as reasons for the Coalition split: creating a Regional Future Fund, improving mobile coverage, breaking up supermarket monopolies, and backing nuclear energy.
“These are the issues that matter to regional people,” she said. “In parts of Richmond, GPs can’t even conduct telehealth calls because there’s no mobile coverage. Farmers are being squeezed by unfair supermarket practices. Our kids don’t even have access to basic sporting facilities.”
She said Labor’s decision to scrap a regional funding mechanism after the 2022 election redirected investment away from regional areas.
“Regional Australia generates enormous value for the country. Yet we’re constantly sidelined. A dedicated regional fund would ensure investment reaches the places that actually need it.”
As a local government councillor, Hone says she’s seen the lack of resources firsthand. “We don’t have proper sporting facilities. Roads are crumbling. And there’s no long-term investment. That needs to change.”
Local Feedback Positive on the Split
Hone says local feedback including from Ballina has been overwhelmingly supportive of the Nationals’ move.
“I’ve had one person raise concern about future preference flows. But everyone else has told me they’re relieved. They can see we’re standing for something clear and consistent.”
Even in more green-left-leaning areas like Lennox Head, Hone said the reception has been encouraging.
“People appreciate leaders who speak plainly and stand their ground.”
She said the Liberal Party’s recent organisational failures have also frustrated regional voters.
“At the last local government elections, the Liberals didn’t run candidates because they failed to lodge paperwork. That left their federal leadership having to step in and take over. It’s been chaos.”
Liberals Need to ‘Find Themselves’ Before Reuniting
While Hone acknowledges that the Coalition will need to reunite eventually to win government, she said a temporary separation provides a chance for both parties –particularly the Liberals –to reassess.
“At the moment, we’re not united, because the Liberal Party is not united. They’re deeply divided. They don’t know what they stand for.”
She addressed recent comments by former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard, who urged both parties to come together again.
Hone respects Howard’s legacy but believes his advice may not fit today’s circumstances.
“John Howard’s Liberal Party was clear, cohesive, and disciplined. The current party isn’t that. Times have changed. The Liberals need to spend time in the wilderness and figure out who they are.”
She believes the Nationals have already done that work.
“We know what we stand for. We’ve shown that we’re prepared to walk away from power to protect our values. That’s real leadership.”
Nationals MPs and senators would potentially give up pay and influence to separate from the Liberals and she believes the selfless approach. would be appreciated by voters.
“Our leaders chose principle over position. That tells people we’re not in this for ourselves, we’re in it for the regions.”
Back to Work and Not Looking Back
Despite the election loss, Hone says she hasn’t had time to dwell on the outcome. As a sitting councillor on Tweed Shire Council and a mother of three, she returned to her responsibilities immediately.
“You don’t get time to lick your wounds in my world,” she said. “The campaign was intense—five months of putting your life on hold. But once it ended, I had to jump straight back into council work and family life.”
She said the adjustment back to daily life after such an intense campaign was jarring but necessary. “You park so much of your life while campaigning. Then suddenly you’ve got to pick it all back up again. But you just get on with it.”
Main photo: Kimberly Hone, (far-right) with Ballina Shire Councillors during the recent campaign.
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