Hanson takes poll hit, Coalition down to rock bottom
Support for One Nation has fallen in the latest opinion polls as parliament heads into its final sitting week before the winter break.
Source: Sky News
Two polls show Labor clawing back support as One Nation’s popularity slides after Pauline Hanson’s “monoculture” speech at the National Press Club.
The latest Newspoll on Monday revealed a rise in support for Labor after its tax backflip, while One Nation took a hit after enjoying a recent surge in support.
The survey, published in The Australian, showed Labor on 33 per cent (up 3), with One Nation on 29 (down 2) and the Greens on 14 (up 2).
It was worse news for the Coalition, which has fallen to a historic low of 17 per cent.
The Newspoll was conducted between Monday and Thursday last week, after Labor scrapped some contentious tax measures and after Hanson railed against multiculturalism and decried paid parental leave.
A separate Redbridge poll had Labor on 30 per cent support (up 2) compared to One Nation’s 29 (down 2), with the Coalition on just 18 (down 2) and the Greens on 14 (up 2).
The Redbridge poll, reported in the Australian Financial Review, also had Hanson’s net approval falling 10 points from a neutral position to be -10.
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The numbers are a sweet tonic for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his party, which has battled for post-budget credibility after breaking promises on tax.
The polls are the first major surveys since Hanson’s expansive speech at the National Press Club, which set the national discourse for days.
On that outing, she criticised paid parental leave and suggested Australia should reject what she described as a failed policy of multiculturalism and instead become a “monoculture”.
She later claimed the Socceroos — whose squad includes migrants and former refugees — were a monoculture because they represented Australia.
On Sunday, Paul Hogan — the man Hanson personally cited as an “essential feature of Australian monoculture” — had his say on her views.
“Bring back Paul Hogan and Norman Gunston,” Hanson told the Senate on Wednesday.
“These are the essential features of Australian monoculture, and there’s nothing remotely exclusionary about them.”
Paul Hogan gave his two cents after Pauline Hanson referenced him for her ‘monoculture’ argument.
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“She’s living in the past, obviously,” Hogan told The AFR.
“I’ve always had a very simple rule: What makes a good Australian is wanting to be one.”
The US-based actor, aged 86, said if Hanson wanted a monoculture: “She’s a pelican, yeah.
“Outrageous, so racist. It sounds very much like this stupid boofhead over here, Trump.”
In the fortnight since Hanson’s press club speech, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has also struggled to articulate his party’s position on multiculturalism alongside its own hard-line immigration policy.
The Coalition remains in a dire poll position, well below the 32 per cent support it received at the 2025 election.
Taylor’s blunder overshadowed the Coalition’s attack on Labor’s budget, some frustrated Liberals have lamented. However, there are no suggestions a leadership challenge is imminent.
The Coalition will use the final sitting week of parliament before the winter break to ramp up its criticism of the government’s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing.
That will include a so-called “widow’s tax” affecting jointly owned investment properties. Under Labor’s changes, an owner could lose tax concessions if widowed or divorced.
The opposition will also attempt to censure Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, accusing them of failing to be upfront about the changes.
Debate is also certain on the child social media ban and gambling reform, given Labor is expected to table legislation for both this week.
Under recently announced changes, the nation’s online watchdog will be given stronger enforcement powers, while the maximum fine for platforms that don’t comply will be doubled to $99 million, to try to improve compliance with the social media age limit.
On gambling, the federal government’s long-awaited crackdown on betting ads advertising will be introduced. It is not expected to become law before MPs return to their electorates.
-with AAP
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