In a stunning political realignment, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has eclipsed the Coalition in the latest Newspoll, capturing an unprecedented 22% of the primary vote following a seven-point surge over two months. The controversial leader framed this seismic shift as public endorsement of her longstanding nationalist agenda while pointing to recent violent incidents as catalysts for awakening Australian consciousness.
Addressing media at Parliament House, Senator Hanson positioned herself as the original architect of global right-wing populism, asserting her ideological precedence over figures like Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. ‘I’ve set the record—I stand up for what I believe in and don’t back away from anything,’ she declared, characterizing her consistency as the cornerstone of her appeal.
The One Nation leader specifically referenced the alleged assassination attempt on American commentator Charlie Kirk and the Bondi Beach terror attack as pivotal moments that galvanized public support. She described these events as ‘wake-up calls’ that exposed systemic failures in national security and immigration policy. ‘Mass migration has been a huge issue for Australians calling out to government,’ Hanson stated, linking housing shortages, job insecurity, and cost-of-living pressures to uncontrolled immigration.
Her commentary extended to defending her notorious 2017 burqa stunt in Parliament, which resulted in her exclusion from recent Senate condolence proceedings. ‘It wasn’t a stunt—I was standing my ground,’ she insisted, maintaining that the gesture highlighted security concerns about full-face coverings in public spaces.
The party’s momentum was further amplified by defector Barnaby Joyce, who joined One Nation after fracturing with the Nationals. The former deputy prime minister rejected characterization of the party as radical, asserting ‘It is not radical if it’s the truth.’ Joyce criticized performative political empathy without substantive action, questioning the value of ’empathetic self-aggrandisement.’
As Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam acknowledged the polling indicates ‘we’ve got our work cut out for us,’ Hanson revealed ambitions beyond protest politics. ‘You bet I want to form government,’ she stated, confirming active recruitment strategies for Queensland lower house seats while recognizing the formidable challenge of maintaining record polling numbers.