Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, said Australians are "crying out for change" as her party's popularity surges in recent polling [1].
The rise of One Nation signals a significant shift in the Australian political landscape, suggesting a growing disillusionment with the established major parties.
Recent polls from early June indicate that One Nation has overtaken the Labor Party in primary-vote popularity [1, 3]. Some reports suggest the party has become the most popular in the country [3]. However, other analyses note that the Liberal-National coalition continues to navigate the impact of this surge [2].
Hanson said the major political parties have lost the trust of the Australian people [1]. This loss of trust has driven voters to seek alternatives to the traditional political binary, fueling the growth of her party's influence across the nation [1, 2, 5].
This momentum follows a concrete electoral breakthrough in May 2026, when One Nation won its first seat in the federal lower house [4]. The victory marks a transition for the party from a force primarily present in the Senate to a direct competitor in the House of Representatives [4].
Hanson said she could do the job of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese [3]. The surge has already sparked friction among other political figures, including clashes between Tanya Plibersek and Barnaby Joyce as they react to the shifting voter sentiment [3].
One Nation's growth is concentrated in areas where voters feel neglected by the urban-centric policies of the major parties. The party continues to leverage this sentiment to expand its footprint in the federal parliament [2, 5].
“Australians are "crying out for change"”
The transition of One Nation from a peripheral political force to a party capable of winning lower-house seats and leading primary polls indicates a volatility in Australian voter loyalty. By breaking the traditional dominance of the Labor and Liberal-National parties, One Nation is forcing a realignment of the right-wing vote and increasing the likelihood of a fragmented parliament where minor parties hold significant leverage over policy and government formation.
