The coalition parties have two new leaders. Angus Taylor became Liberal party leader on 13 February and Matt Canavan took over as the National leader on 11 March.

Taylor and Canavan have nominated their policy priorities: energy, climate and immigration are high on the list.

Both leaders oppose the pursuit of net zero emissions. That’s socialism, says Canavan.

“Drill, baby, drill’, Canavan said , quoting Donald Trump.

The two leaders have called for higher immigration standards based on “Australian values”. Taylor says too many migrants of “subversive intent” have been allowed into the country. On Insiders on 26 April, he, labelled some nations as “bad countries”.

There is “a higher risk that some bad people [will] come from those bad countries,” he said, while noting, somewhat contradictorily that “some of the great Australians have come from countries that were bad countries at the time.”

At an anti-immigration rally on 26 April, Matt Canavan echoed Taylor, calling for “better standards” on migration.

“We’ve just had a little bit too much talk of diversity.” Canavan said.

If you can’t beat them – join?

Both leaders have announced that they will preference One Nation in the forthcoming Farrer by-election and their parties will do likewise in the Victorian state by-election in Nepean.

It suggests that they intend move away from the centre right and enter into a pitched battle for votes further on the extreme. They will compete with One Nation on its terms – and perhaps purloin its policies.

What does this mean for the ABC?

None of this positioning tells us how the new leaders will approach policy for the ABC. But we have some clues.

Last November Senator Sarah Henderson, now Angus Taylor’s pick as opposition Communications spokesperson, pushed for a Senate inquiry to examine “the ABC’s legal obligations regarding impartiality and accuracy.” Her aim, to rewrite the ABC Act, was a blatant attempt to pressure the ABC.

The senate rejected the inquiry – but Matt Canavan, along with all Liberal and National senators voted in favour.

In March Pauline Hanson told Sky News she would “defund” the ABC and make everything except the radio service subscription only.

Meanwhile Senator Henderson called for another urgent independent investigation into the ABC’s impartiality and demanded that Hugh Marks, “shut down” commentary by John Lyons over his remarks on the US-Israel strikes against Iran.

Both Taylor and Canavan are happy to appear on the ABC when the opportunity presents itself. That’s an improvement on the previous liberal leader Peter Dutton who avoided its scrutiny. But neither Taylor nor Canavan has a record of supporting the ABC.

With Pauline Hanson’s documented record of hostility towards the ABC, substantial cuts to our public broadcasters are virtually guaranteed under a One Nation-influenced government. We need to start early and tell Canavan and Taylor in no uncertain terms just how unpopular such policies would be.

Australia can’t afford more years of politically-motivated attacks against public broadcasting. The ABC can’t afford another round of brutal funding cuts.