Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the Labor Party's decline in polls is the result of changing politics and economic pressures [1, 2].
The Premier's warning comes as the government faces a volatile electoral landscape, where traditional voter loyalty is eroding due to financial instability. This shift potentially opens the door for right-wing populism to gain a foothold in the state.
Allan said global economic shocks are a primary driver of the slump, noting that these forces are felt directly by residents in Melbourne and across Victoria [1, 2]. She said that cost-of-living and time pressures are weighing heavily on citizens, factors that she believes have altered the traditional political environment.
“We don’t necessarily need the polls to tell us this, that the old rules of politics and what we used to know as normal … we know that the old rules have changed,” Allan said [2].
Beyond the economic factors, the Premier said the political right could capitalize on this discontent. Specifically, she said that One Nation could see a surge in support within Victoria [1, 2].
Allan said that the pressures hitting "kitchen tables here in Melbourne and Victoria" have created a climate where voters are more susceptible to alternative political movements [2]. She said that the current environment differs significantly from previous electoral cycles, rendering old strategies less effective.
While the government continues to manage the state's infrastructure and services, the Premier's focus on the "old rules" suggests a need for a strategic pivot to address the growing influence of populist rhetoric in the region [1, 2].
“the old rules of politics and what we used to know as normal … we know that the old rules have changed”
The admission by Premier Allan suggests that the Victorian Labor Party is struggling to decouple its brand from broader global economic trends. By highlighting the potential rise of One Nation, the government is acknowledging a growing vulnerability to populist narratives that often thrive during periods of high inflation and cost-of-living crises, indicating that economic anxiety is now a primary driver of political realignment in the state.
