Thirty years ago, against the odds, a fish-and-chip shop owner with little political experience won a seat in the Australian parliament. Since then Pauline Hanson has become as well known for her inflammatory anti-immigration rhetoric as much as her parliamentary stunts, while support for her right-wing populist One Nation party has ebbed and flowed.
After returning from the political wilderness a decade ago, Hanson's party is now riding a new wave of popularity, driven by voters weary of mainstream political parties that they say don't understand their struggles. On 21 March, One Nation achieved its first electoral breakthrough outside Hanson's home state of Queensland. In a state election in South Australia, the party won the second highest number of votes - more than 20% - the first time it has done so in Australia where two parties have traditionally been dominant.
The incumbent Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas won a resounding victory in the poll, increasing his majority in the process, but One Nation will get at least three candidates elected, mostly at the expense of the main conservative opposition Liberal Party.
Amidst the backdrop of rising populism globally, analysts ponder whether this election signals One Nation's move from the fringes to the center of Australian politics. Kos Samaras, a former Labor strategist, described the situation as a 'very ominous sign' for the two major political parties.
Historically, One Nation has been synonymous with anti-immigration sentiments, first gaining prominence with Hanson's controversial statements in the 1990s. The party's electoral resurgence is attributed to factors such as a cost-of-living crisis and growing discontent with the traditional two-party system.
The performance in South Australia served to validate One Nation's recent climb in polls, which have consistently placed it in second place behind Labor. As voters express dissatisfaction with the complexities of housing and living costs, they are looking for alternative solutions, making One Nation an attractive choice for a significant portion of the electorate.
Hanson remains optimistic about her party's direction, asserting that there is a movement among voters dissatisfied with the status quo. Yet, while One Nation looks to future elections and potential gains, experts caution that the party's structural challenges and Australia's preferential voting system might limit its ability to become a dominating force in the long term.
As Australia heads towards a projected election cycle, the implications of One Nation's rise could reshape the landscape, with traditional parties needing to adapt significantly to connect with their constituents.
