Like many places across the world, Australia is currently finding itself gripped in the rise of right-wing populism. The post-election collapse in support for the traditional conservative parties – the Liberals and Nationals – has seen an unprecedented rise in the fortunes of One Nation. Recently we saw that party win its first ever federal lower house seat and receive a massive by-election win in Western Australia.

For the last 29 years, One Nation has been on the fringes of Australia’s political landscape. Since being formed by Pauline Hanson, who had been earlier jettisoned by the Coalition in the lead up the 1996 federal election, the fortunes of One Nation have been small, but consistent, winning seats federally and in various states on and off during that time. Their most significant success was in 1998, in Queensland, when they won a surprising 11 seats. However, this success was short lived as the fledgling party was affected by internal divisions and an eventual split. Indeed, since that time, many One Nation politicians defected, ending up as independents and then disappearing from politics all together.
Despite the ongoing ebb and flow of support for One Nation, it has managed to survive, feeding on the disenchantment of many traditional Coalition voters, and to a lesser extent, some Labor supporters.

The party has confirmed itself, like in so many other countries, as a permanent fixture of the radical, populist right. Hanson’s simplistic messaging has been based purely on stoking social division, fear mongering and xenophobia. Her policies and voting record have been described as incompatible with her claim that she stands up for ‘the Aussie battler’. Her stance on immigration is sensationalist and fails to grasp the problem that Australia has an ageing population coupled with a declining skills base – across many sectors of our economy.

Ironically, Hanson’s voting record in Parliament is a clear testament that she has consistently worked against the interests of those who believe that she is their savior. She has opposed tax cuts, minimum wage increases and has even recently attacked the superannuation system that has lifted many Australians out of post-retirement poverty. Appallingly, she also described the current scourge of domestic violence as a ‘two-way street’ – an ignorant attempt to blame shift on to the victim.
Let’s face it, Australia’s media have failed spectacularly in any real scrutiny of Hanson’s policies (or real lack thereof) and her appalling voting record. They instead have resorted to sensationalising the last 12 months of opinion polling in an attempt to boost patronage.

With the Coalition struck like a rabbit in the headlights, unable to counter the rise of One Nation, the real fight is left up to the only mainstream Party with the ability to fight back – that is the Australian Labor Party. Prime Minister Albanese is correct when he makes this assertion. There is simply no other major political force that can fight the racism, xenophobia and assault on the social fabric of Australia than the ALP, working with the mighty trade union movement and others in our community that are alarmed at what Hanson truly represents.

Make no mistake, the threat from the growing influence of One Nation is real. People hurting from the ill effects of decades of destructive neoliberal policies are looking at anti establishment forces, not realising that these same forces are not interested in solving real issues, but exploiting them. The Australian Labor Party cannot afford to waste the next 18 months as the 2028 election looms. It must continue to fight every day and make it clear to every Australian that One Nation does not offer any tangible solution to real issues – especially not cost of living, economic disparity, skills shortages and housing affordablity. Only Labor can deliver on these and is delivering. The fight is heating up. Anyone wanting to stop those forces that would tear up our nations social fabric needs to join this fight now.