A new poll conducted by The Australian Financial Review, RedBridge Group, and Accent Research shows support for One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, continuing to rise. Hanson has also publicly stated for the first time that she would not rule out running for the House of Representatives in the future, or even seeking the prime ministership.
According to the poll, One Nation now holds a primary vote of 31%, ahead of Labor on 28% and the Coalition on 20%. Although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese still leads Hanson by six percentage points in the national preferred prime minister measure, Hanson has overtaken Albanese among Generation X voters, leading 30% to 27%, suggesting her support base continues to expand.
The survey also indicates that One Nation’s appeal is no longer confined to traditional conservative voters or regional electorates. Among Millennial voters, One Nation’s support has reached 30%, surpassing Labor’s 28%. Analysts believe rising living costs and worsening housing affordability have contributed significantly to the party’s growing popularity.
Tony Barry, director of RedBridge Group, said Australia is experiencing a strong anti-establishment sentiment, with One Nation emerging as one of its main beneficiaries. He argued that an increasing number of voters believe the major parties have failed to address economic concerns effectively and are therefore turning to parties that challenge the political status quo.
In a recent media interview, Hanson said she would not rule out contesting a seat in the House of Representatives. Under Australia’s political system, the prime minister must sit in the House of Representatives, leading many observers to interpret her comments as an indication that she may seek to challenge the dominance of the two major parties more directly.
Hanson said she would not reject the role of prime minister, arguing that she believes she is capable of doing the job and that Australia’s political landscape has changed significantly in recent years.
She also pointed to One Nation’s recent historic victory in the Farrer by-election, saying it demonstrated growing public dissatisfaction with the existing political system. According to Hanson, this is not merely a challenge for the Coalition, but one facing Labor, the Greens, and the broader political establishment as a whole.