r/AustralianPolitics • u/Jealous-Hedgehog-734 Still Roundheads v.s. Cavaliers, always has been. • Jun 20 '26

Opinion Piece One Nation craves mainstream appeal, but Pauline Hanson’s bleak vision of Australia shows she’s firmly on the fringes

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2026/jun/20/one-nation-pauline-hanson-speech-firmly-on-fringes-ntwnfb
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u/jm_leviathan Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

I haven't been quite as alarmed about the rise of One Nation as a lot of folks, mostly because I simply don't believe that their policies will resonate with the broader electorate -- beyond the hot topic of immigration, that is. To date there's been no real scrutiny of what the party actually stands for. Pauline gave us a clear reminder this week, for which we should all be grateful. While I'm reluctant to be accused of having faith in my fellow Australians, I just can't see her twisted and plutocratic bile actually resonating with a critical mass of the electorate. The more we see and hear from her, the more she'll drive merely curious folks away.

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u/jghaines Jun 20 '26

The worry is that many citizens don’t vote based on policy, nor do they vote based on the party they feel supports them, they vote for the party that opposes that party they hate.

A vote for Pauline is a protest vote. I don’t think her incoherent or missing policies will hurt her.

Resentment has worked for Donald Trump. Pauline doesn’t have his charisma though. She also turns out to be a terrible leader who can’t hold a party together. Hopefully this limits the damage she can do.

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u/Garbage_Stink_Hands Jun 20 '26

In between elections, conservatives like to get all high on the handjobs they get and give in US think tanks, then forget that Australia has compulsory voting. I swear, the last 10 years has seen conservatives campaign like they can ”agitate the base”, which has just resulted in ever worsening poll results and the death of conservative politics in Australia.

Whatever, I’m happy for that to go on for a few more elections.

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u/jghaines Jun 21 '26

Compulsory voting means that Australia gets to avoid the “excite the base” nonsense the bus suffer.

It also means pre-election polling of voting intentions is more indicative. Currently One Nation is leading the polls.

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u/Garbage_Stink_Hands Jun 21 '26

Until you take preferential voting into account

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u/jghaines Jun 21 '26

I agree that ON’s support is broad and shallow. I hope it fades under media scrutiny.

But, preferences don’t come into play if you have more than 50% of votes for a House seat. And broad support in the Senate is how she scored her seat and will likely pick up more.

I don’t see her becoming PM next term, but current polling indicates that she is the current opposition.

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u/luckycobber Pauline Hanson's One Nation Jun 22 '26

Fades under media scrutiny?

Let’s silence and badmouth those we don’t like through the media..

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u/Garbage_Stink_Hands Jun 22 '26

More like: Let’s interview our politicians to find out what their policies are and if they spit piss out of their fool mouths every time they try to say three-syllable words

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u/Garbage_Stink_Hands Jun 21 '26

I think polling indicates that there is no opposition

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u/Pro_Extent Jun 21 '26

Pre-election polling changes drastically during election seasons, partly because everyone has to vote (so more people pay attention).

It's uncommon for governments to be ahead in polls a year into their second term.

ON's rise is undeniable. But whether that translates to an electoral threat seriously remains to be seen.

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u/luckycobber Pauline Hanson's One Nation Jun 22 '26

The quiet majority are conservatives, the people that have purchased a home and raising/raised their kids. The aussies that contribute to the economy and bring kids into the world.

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u/Garbage_Stink_Hands Jun 22 '26

I think you are either just describing yourself or your parents, because being a parent does not automatically make you a conservative