Pauline Hanson is becoming a problem for Labor – but her focus on battlers could be her kryptonite
Pauline Hanson is becoming a problem for Labor, as her rightwing populist movement gains traction in Australian politics. Just five months after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concerns about One Nation’s rising influence, the party has surged in popularity, threatening to disrupt the traditional two-party system. Recent national opinion polls reveal One Nation as the most favored party, forcing Labor to reassess its strategy in countering the challenge. The party’s emphasis on economic reforms, including changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, has been partially aimed at addressing the public frustrations that fuel Hanson’s appeal.
Rising Influence of One Nation
Albanese first raised alarms in mid-January during an interview on Kiis FM, highlighting the need to preserve stable political frameworks. He remarked,
“I’m a believer in mainstream politics and that the parties of government, it’s important. [It has] served this country pretty well.”
His comments followed a newspoll showing One Nation surpassing the Coalition in popularity for the first time. Now, with a recent fundraising campaign dubbed “fire the liar” generating over $2m in a single week, the party’s influence has grown exponentially. This momentum is driven by public discontent over federal budget decisions, which Hanson’s movement has effectively channeled into a coherent political narrative.
Labor’s Strategic Response
Despite these challenges, Labor has opted to frame Hanson as the primary threat rather than the Coalition. The party’s messaging now directly targets her, positioning her as the source of political instability. However, this approach risks neglecting broader economic and social issues that resonate with working-class Australians. A former Labor strategist, Kos Samaras, warns that focusing solely on personal attacks may not address the core grievances fueling support for rightwing populism. “Hanson’s vulnerability lies in her inability to connect with the average voter,” Samaras argues, suggesting that Labor’s strategy could backfire if it fails to engage with the real struggles of everyday Australians.
MPs in the Labor Party are now being given “talking points” to highlight Hanson’s record on wages and job security, aiming to undermine her image as a champion of working-class interests. Albanese recently acknowledged that Australians are increasingly frustrated with an economy that “isn’t working for them,” a sentiment that aligns with One Nation’s platform. By emphasizing economic policies that directly impact battlers, the government hopes to reframe the political debate and rally support among those traditionally aligned with Labor.
Yet, Labor’s strategy has created some strategic gaps. The party has chosen to avoid discussing immigration, a key issue in Hanson’s platform, instead directing attention to economic concerns. This decision reflects an effort to steer the narrative away from politically sensitive topics. However, it also highlights a potential misstep, as Hanson’s focus on migration and welfare has resonated strongly with voters disillusioned by mainstream politics. “If you can show her as out of touch with the real struggles of everyday Australians, she becomes a target for disengagement,” Samaras adds, underscoring the importance of economic messaging in retaining support from “red One Nation” voters.
Meanwhile, the trade union movement has taken a more aggressive stance, positioning One Nation as its main political opponent. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has leveraged the Fair Work Commission’s decision to raise minimum wages, using it as a rallying point against Hanson’s opposition to pay increases. In a recent social media video, ACTU secretary Sally McManus criticized Hanson’s stance, stating,
“These are Aussie battlers who’ve been doing it tough, struggling and just scraping through, and who stood up for them and their families? Not Pauline Hanson. She argued against these increases.”
This alignment with working-class voters suggests that Hanson’s message may have genuine appeal, even as it challenges the status quo.
As the political landscape evolves, the battle between Labor and One Nation remains pivotal. Pauline Hanson is becoming a problem for Labor, but her ability to mobilize battlers could also be the very force that weakens her position. With economic issues at the forefront of public discourse, the party’s success will depend on whether it can effectively address the concerns that Hanson has so skillfully amplified.
