Pauline Hanson.Image: keystone
June 1, 2026, 7:56 amJune 1, 2026, 7:56 am
The shift to the right that can be observed in many western industrial nations has also affected Australia’s party landscape. The “One Nation” party, known for radical anti-immigration policies, anti-Muslim slogans and economic protectionism based on the motto “Australians First”, moved to the top of a national survey commissioned by the business newspaper “Australian Financial Review” for the first time.
The party, currently only represented with two seats in the Australian House of Commons, gained four percentage points in the survey to 31 percent of the vote. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ruling Social Democrats slipped to second place with just 28 percent (minus four). The conservative opposition is internally divided and far behind.
Party leader Pauline Hanson said she was surprised by the result despite the nationwide upswing in recent weeks – and let it be known that she felt capable of becoming Prime Minister. However, the most recent parliamentary election was only a year ago and the next one is not due for another two years.
Whether the right-wing populists will actually do so well is questionable – and will also depend on the extent to which US President Donald Trump and his “America First” policy influence the next election campaign Down Under. Hanson’s party not only has a similar motto, but also many other things in common with the American right, which makes no secret of its support for ideologically like-minded people around the world – and Australia is traditionally considered a close ally of the United States.
Two-party system in transition
Australia’s political system, which has always been dominated by two parties and has always led to a reliable alternation between social democratic and conservative heads of government in recent decades, is reeling. The main reasons for this are the skyrocketing rent and real estate prices, the rapidly rising cost of living and the lack of political answers to the complex problems of our time, which leave many people feeling overwhelmed and alone.
“One Nation” scores with simple answers, blames immigrants in particular for the lack of housing, unemployment and bottlenecks in the health system and has never had to prove itself in government.
Raising sentiment against immigrants as a model for success?
At 72 years old and with her distinctive short hairstyle in bright red, party founder Hanson is a veteran of Australian domestic politics. The former owner of a fish and chip shop was once forced out of the Conservative party by the Liberals because of constant verbal gaffes, but still entered parliament as a non-party and spent several months in prison in 2003 for election fraud – the verdict was later annulled.
Hanson rarely minces his words and does not shy away from using racist clichés or discriminating against marginalized groups. She made several comments about Asian immigrants, practically placed Muslims under general suspicion in connection with Islamist-motivated terrorism and made headlines with a fully veiled burqa appearance in parliament. She has been a member of the Senate since 2016. (sda/dpa)
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