Pauline Hanson and One Nation’s rise in polls, clashes with Labor over rhetoric and Secret Harbour by-election win
Consensus Summary
Pauline Hanson and One Nation are surging in popularity after winning the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia, with polling showing One Nation at 30 per cent support, ahead of Labor’s 29 per cent. Hanson has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of using inflammatory language that could incite violence, referencing the July murder of British politician Ann Widdecombe. Albanese responded by calling One Nation’s politics ‘dangerous, divisive, and downright dishonest,’ escalating a rhetorical battle. Security concerns have risen for Hanson and other MPs, including charges against a man who threatened to kill her on August 20. One Nation’s David Farley, elected in May, confirmed he would not leave the party, while Labor’s approval ratings remain low, with Albanese’s net score at minus 21 in the latest Newspoll. The Guardian notes Albanese’s past strategy of fighting One Nation on policy rather than personal attacks, but Hanson’s provocative stance risks dragging him into a broader conflict.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Pauline Hanson accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers of using language that could incite violence against One Nation, referencing the murder of British politician Ann Widdecombe in July
- One Nation won the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia on Saturday, flipping a previously safe Labor seat
- One Nation’s federal polling shows 30 per cent support, ahead of Labor’s 29 per cent and the Coalition in the high teens, with the Greens at 13 per cent
- David Farley, a One Nation MP elected in May at the Farrer by-election, confirmed he would not quit the party and sit as an independent
- Albanese described One Nation’s politics as ‘dangerous, divisive, and downright dishonest’ in a speech on Sunday at Labor’s Queensland state conference
- A man charged with threatening to kill Pauline Hanson, Anton Raymond Illich (47), appeared in court on August 20 and is scheduled to appear again in October
- Hanson referenced the death of Ann Widdecombe, who was murdered in July, as a warning about the dangers of violent political rhetoric
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Hanson cited the murder of Ann Widdecombe as a warning of the ‘dangers of poisonous political rhetoric’ and compared it to Albanese’s language
- One Nation’s rise in polls follows a ‘landslide state by-election win’ and a week of policy confusion for Labor
- Barnaby Joyce attributed One Nation’s success to a sense of ‘dry pragmatism’ among voters tired of a ‘closed shop’ between Labor and the Coalition
- The Greens have fallen to 13 per cent since the last Newspoll in early August
- Hanson said Labor politicians ‘seem to get a free pass’ to use language they would not allow others to use
- Hanson’s personal protection detail increased to as many as a dozen federal police officers, including undercover agents, due to threats
- Nearly 40 people have been charged with Commonwealth crimes since September last year for threatening MPs and other high office holders
- Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie received additional security due to an orchestrated online campaign against him
- Hanson buried a nail during a Victorian campaign event, though the article does not specify the exact date or context beyond ‘a Victorian campaign event’
- Assistant Minister Patrick Gorman criticized Hanson’s ‘stunts’ as inconsistent with respectful politics, including actions in the Senate chamber
- Hanson’s 1998 re-election fight was referenced, where she advised against personal attacks on John Howard, contrasting with her current approach
- One Nation claims to have raised millions from a ‘fire the liar’ fundraising drive targeting Albanese
- Albanese’s net approval rating is at minus 21 in the latest Newspoll, with 38 per cent satisfied and 59 per cent dissatisfied
- In the Resolve poll, Albanese’s net score is minus 16 percentage points, with 37 per cent approving and 53 per cent disapproving
- Labor sources privately noted Peter Dutton’s standing in January 2025, when polls showed the Coalition competitive before Labor won 94 seats
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- 7NEWS states the Secret Harbour by-election occurred in early August, while THEAGE and GUARDIAN report it happened on Saturday (no specific month in GUARDIAN, but THEAGE confirms August 31 publication date)
- THEAGE mentions a ‘report in The Saturday Paper’ about David Farley potentially quitting One Nation, but 7NEWS and THEAGE both later confirm Farley denied quitting
- THEAGE states Hanson’s security detail increased from ‘the usual two or three federal police,’ while 7NEWS does not mention specific numbers for Hanson’s prior detail
- GUARDIAN references a ‘fire the liar’ fundraising drive targeting Albanese, but neither 7NEWS nor THEAGE mention this specific campaign
- THEAGE notes threats against MPs have been ‘steadily escalating recently,’ while 7NEWS focuses on the immediate context of Hanson’s security increase and Illich’s court appearance
Source Articles
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she is drawing line on ‘threatening’ political language
‘Australians are entitled to vote for One Nation without being told ... their democratic choice is a danger to the nation.’
‘You can’t just say we’re evil’: Joyce backs Hanson when she says PM is inciting violence
Pauline Hanson says Anthony Albanese has “crossed a line” after One Nation’s victory in the Secret Harbour byelection.
Albanese has everything to lose engaging in a fight with Hanson, but he may be drawn in anyway | Analysis
The PM wants to combat One Nation through core Labor values such as education and health, even as his popularity takes a beating Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast At the height of her 1998 re-election fight, Pauline Hanson was challenged to give her honest assessment of John Howard. Two years on from her firebrand maiden speech, the One Nation leader was contesting the Queensland seat of Blair when she was bailed up by a group of punters at a country race meeting. The
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