One Nation has overtaken the Australian Labor Party to become the nation's most popular party, according to a new poll, with primary support for Pauline Hanson's party rising to 30 percent. Labor trails at 29 percent, and the Coalition sits at 19 percent.
Despite the shift in party popularity, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister among voters, holding 46 percent support compared to Hanson's 31 percent and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's 23 percent. On a two-party-preferred basis, Albanese leads Hanson 56-44.
The Newspoll, conducted by Pyxis Polling & Insights, surveyed nearly 1,250 voters last week, prior to One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen's significant victory in the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia.
Hanson's personal approval rating has also seen a positive trend, with a net approval of minus 1, as 47 percent of voters expressed satisfaction with her performance and 48 percent dissatisfaction. In contrast, Albanese's net approval rating stands at minus 21, with 38 percent satisfied and 59 percent dissatisfied. Taylor's net approval is minus 17, with one-third satisfied and half dissatisfied.
A separate Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll showed a slightly different trend, with One Nation's primary vote dropping three points to 28 percent, trailing Labor by one point. The Labor party, however, leads One Nation 52-48 on a two-party-preferred basis in this poll.
The rising popularity of One Nation has prompted concern among some Labor sources. One senior party source commented that increased representation for One Nation could integrate them further into the political system.
The by-election result and the broader surge in One Nation's support were discussed on national television, with Labor MP Tanya Plibersek and MP Barnaby Joyce clashing over immigration and the federal government's record. Plibersek pushed back against the notion that the Western Australian by-election was driven solely by state issues, noting that federal matters, particularly immigration and its perceived impact on housing and cost of living, were part of the campaign.
Plibersek stated that the Albanese government is actively working to reduce immigration, contrasting their actions with what she described as inconsistent messaging from the opposition. She highlighted a parliamentary vote where opposition parties voted against a cap on student numbers. However, she acknowledged a gap between the government's messaging and its perception in the polls, particularly regarding immigration, where One Nation polls at 39 percent as the preferred party to handle the issue, compared to Labor's 19 percent.
In response to Plibersek's remarks, Joyce accused her of lying and questioned the representation of blue-collar workers within the Labor party. Plibersek maintained that Labor has members with diverse backgrounds.
Prime Minister Albanese had previously launched a strong criticism of One Nation, characterizing hard-right populists as dangerous and divisive. He argued that parties like One Nation offer no substantial solutions and are characterized by internal divisions.
Hanson retaliated to Albanese's comments, accusing him of inciting political violence by labeling democratically elected opponents as threats. She cited the murder of Jo Cox in Britain as a cautionary example of the dangers of inflammatory political rhetoric and suggested that the government's economic management was the true danger, driving up costs for Australians.