Pauline Hanson is facing criticism from across the political divide over inflammatory comments made during her European tour, but the controversy has not stopped One Nation from regaining ground in the latest federal opinion poll.
Newspoll, conducted for The Australian, places One Nation and Labor level on 30 per cent of the primary vote. One Nation rose one percentage point, while Labor fell three points to its equal-lowest Newspoll primary vote since Anthony Albanese became Prime Minister in 2022. The Liberal-National Coalition increased two points to 19 per cent, while the Greens recorded 12 per cent.
The result leaves One Nation 11 percentage points ahead of the Coalition and suggests the party’s support has remained resilient despite intense scrutiny of Senator Hanson’s conduct overseas.
Senator Hanson’s satisfaction rating was evenly divided, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with her performance and 47 per cent dissatisfied. Mr Albanese remained ahead in leadership comparisons, but his net approval rating stood at minus 18, while Opposition Leader Angus Taylor recorded minus 21.
The poll was taken as Senator Hanson spent much of July travelling through the United Kingdom and Europe on what she called a “fact-finding mission”.
During the tour, she addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in London, where she claimed Australia had been “flooded” by migrants and had become “completely woke” over transgender rights. She also criticised multiculturalism, opposed the wearing of the burqa and told the audience not to apologise for being white.
Her speech was delivered to a sparse audience at the inaugural British CPAC conference, which brought together conservative and right-wing political figures from several countries. Senator Hanson also spoke at a black-tie dinner connected to the event, where tickets ranged from about $1,150 to more than $19,000.
The One Nation leader attracted further criticism after recording a podcast with British activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
During the interview, Senator Hanson linked Australia’s migration problems to the abolition of the White Australia policy and claimed, without presenting evidence, that Muslim Australians were prominently involved in defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Senator Hanson later denied supporting the restoration of the White Australia policy.
She said in a social media response, while maintaining her opposition to immigration from some countries and to people wearing the burqa,
“Never ever have I advocated that, and I don’t believe in it as well.”
She also defended her decision to meet Robinson, arguing that politicians should be willing to speak to controversial people and hear their views.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to back away from this whatsoever,” Senator Hanson said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Senator Hanson of “talking Australia down” while overseas and defended Australia’s record as a successful multicultural country.
Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume also condemned the comments, describing them as unnecessary, divisive, inflammatory and “totally un-Australian”.
Mr Taylor has categorically ruled out forming a federal coalition with One Nation and intensified his criticism of Senator Hanson as her party takes support from the traditional conservative bloc.
NSW Premier Chris Minns went further, warning that a Coalition-One Nation partnership would become a political “Frankenstein monster” and could damage social cohesion and confidence among Australians from non-European backgrounds.
Senator Hanson’s visit to Italy also became part of the political fight.
She attended a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sicily and was photographed at a luxury resort alongside billionaire mining magnate and One Nation supporter Gina Rinehart. Senator Hanson declined to tell reporters who had paid for the visit but later said the trip had not cost Australian taxpayers “one dollar” and that she had been invited to attend the fashion event.
The episode allowed her opponents to question the contrast between One Nation’s campaigning on cost-of-living pressures and its leader’s appearance at exclusive European events.
Mr Taylor accused Senator Hanson of “living it up” in Italy while Australians were dealing with household financial pressure. One Nation has said any taxpayer-funded travel will be declared in accordance with parliamentary requirements.
Despite the criticism, Newspoll indicates the controversies have not yet produced a major electoral penalty for One Nation.
The party reached a record Newspoll primary vote of 31 per cent earlier this year before slipping to 29 per cent in June. Its return to 30 per cent suggests support remains substantially above the levels recorded after previous federal elections and continues to draw voters away from both major political blocs.
The result does not mean One Nation would necessarily win the largest number of lower-house seats at an election. Its support must be converted into victories across individual electorates under Australia’s preferential voting system, and national primary-vote figures do not show how evenly that support is distributed.
However, the poll confirms that One Nation can no longer be treated as a minor protest party with only a limited electoral base.
The Coalition’s rise from 17 to 19 per cent provides some relief for Mr Taylor, but it remains well behind both Labor and One Nation. That leaves the opposition trying to regain conservative voters without adopting rhetoric that could alienate moderate and multicultural electorates.
Labor faces a different challenge. Its decline to 30 per cent shows that attacking Senator Hanson’s language and associations does not automatically translate into stronger support for the government.
The poll does not establish that voters support every statement Senator Hanson made in Britain. It may instead reflect broader frustration over housing, migration levels, energy costs and the performance of the major parties.
Senator Hanson’s strategy has been to present attacks from Labor, the Coalition and sections of the media as evidence that the political establishment fears One Nation’s rise.
Her refusal to retreat from the Robinson interview indicates she believes confrontation will strengthen, rather than damage, her political position.
The latest Newspoll gives some support to that calculation. After a European tour dominated by arguments over immigration, race, religion and political associations, One Nation has not fallen behind.
It has instead drawn level with the governing party. It remains well ahead of the Coalition, ensuring Senator Hanson will return to Australia facing a barrage of criticism—but with her party still firmly at the centre of the national political contest.
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