Federal Cabinet is going on the road in Queensland but it's got nothing to do with the rise of One Nation. Nosiree, absolutely nothing, I swear.
Treasurer Scott Morrison says the cabinet meeting in Brisbane and other ministerial events around the sunshine state are "just a good opportunity to get out and about".
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is in Brisbane already and the other ministers will join him there on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will also visit Birdsville and Winton in the far western electorate of Maranoa, then ultra-marginal Capricornia around Rockhampton, the Courier Mail reports.
2GB radio host Ray Hadley asked Mr Morrison directly if the road show had anything to do with the rise of One Nation, with polling showing the minor party's support has soared in the state since the federal election.
"No, it wouldn't," Mr Morrison said as Hadley burst into laughter and asked him if he was sure.
"Absolutely certain. I'm deadly serious, Ray."
The treasurer insisted polling and analysis of the minor party's popularity was a distraction that he would leave to commentators.
"It might come as a great shock to you but when you're a treasurer or a prime minister or you're a cabinet minister, you're actually just focused on doing your job," he said.
"We've had cabinet meetings in Melbourne, we've had them in Brisbane, we've had them in Adelaide, we've had them even in Sydney and a lot of the time we have them in Canberra."
Liberal senator Dean Smith said the coalition should not dismiss One Nation supporters out of hand, especially with Western Australia and Queensland next cabs off the rank in terms of state elections.
"It is a live issue for the coalition - I think the prime minister going to Queensland is a very important first step," the WA senator told Sky News.
Rural and regional communities, where One Nation's support is strongest, were uncomfortable with economic change and reform.
"The onus is on us to argue for reform, better make the case for reform and give people a sense that when we have reformed in the past, the country has got prosperous," he said.
"Once we start saying One Nation don't deserve to be represented in the Senate ... if we dismiss the people and the sentiment too much, we are going to find ourselves in a lot of trouble."
