A recent poll indicates that One Nation is leading both the Labor and Coalition parties in Victoria, with 27 percent of the primary vote. The poll, conducted by Redbridge among 6,500 Victorians over the last two weeks, shows Labor and the Coalition each with 26 percent, while the Greens received 12 percent and other parties garnered 8 percent. The Victorian state election is scheduled for November 28.
Despite the Coalition potentially holding a lead on a two-party-preferred basis, the Labor party is framing the poll results as an indication that One Nation's support would be necessary for them to form a government. Labor has released an advertisement suggesting that the Liberals and One Nation could only form a government together in Victoria and claiming this partnership would lead to significant spending cuts totaling $40 billion, impacting services such as hospitals and emergency departments.
The polling data emerges as Victorians voice concerns over Premier Jacinta Allan's handling of crime, particularly youth offending. Allan has also faced scrutiny regarding allegations that the government was aware of inflated costs on major infrastructure projects within the state's $109 billion Big Build program but proceeded to instruct contractors to pay the higher amounts. The corruption scandal involves claims of organized crime figures and bikie gangs infiltrating major infrastructure projects through the CFMEU, with allegations of extortion, violence, and billions of dollars in inflated costs. These funds were reportedly channeled into ghost shifts, nepotism, and payments to underworld figures.
Allan has opposed calls for a royal commission into the construction industry, citing concerns about cost and the time required to produce meaningful results.