Former federal Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has sharply criticised the state Liberal Party in South Australia as effectively “processed” as he makes a high-profile return to politics at the head of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation ticket for the March twenty-first state election.

His remarks reflect deep dissatisfaction with the Liberals’ performance as an opposition force and highlight growing ideological realignments within the broader conservative movement ahead of a contest that could reshape the state’s political landscape.

Bernardi, who served in the Australian Senate from two thousand six until two thousand twenty and originally represented the Liberal Party before leaving to form his own Australian Conservatives party, publicly aligned with One Nation this week as its lead candidate for the Legislative Council.

At a campaign launch alongside One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, he painted a stark picture of the Liberals’ condition in South Australia, arguing they no longer constitute an effective opposition to the incumbent government and have lost the confidence of many conservative voters.

His characterisation of the party as “processed” encapsulates a broader critique that it has become indistinguishable from its rivals and unable to address key issues such as economic stagnation, community safety and rising living costs.

Pauline Hanson welcomed Bernardi’s defection, praising his conservative credentials and framing his leadership as a necessary step to reinvigorate South Australia’s political right.

She asserted that One Nation’s expanded presence will challenge both major parties and offer voters an alternative anchored in what she described as common-sense governance, economic reform, and opposition to “red tape” and policies perceived as divisive.

Bernardi echoed these themes, signalling confidence that One Nation will provide “the strongest voice of opposition” and potentially win multiple seats in the state’s bicameral parliament.

The state Liberal leadership has acknowledged the seriousness of the political challenge but refrained from directly engaging with Bernardi’s critique, instead emphasising its focus on policy issues and efforts to contest Labor at the election.

Recent polling indicates One Nation’s support has surged, at times outpacing the combined Coalition primary vote, underscoring volatility within South Australia’s conservative base and the potential electoral impact of Bernardi’s shift.

This development comes amid broader discussions about voter disenchantment with major parties and the emergence of alternative political formations, with Bernardi’s return to active politics seen as both a symptom and catalyst of that dynamic.