Pauline Hanson is being warned she needs to address Australia’s economic grievances if the party is to retain surging support and turn anger against the two major parties into electoral success.
The One Nation leader addressed the National Press Club in Canberra for the first time in her 30-year political career, calling on migrants to assimilate into Australia’s “monoculture” and vowing to reduce migrants from countries “immersed in extremism, like radical Islam”.
She also labelled the increasing number of households facing financial hardship as “appalling” given the nation’s wealth.
The ultra-conservative party’s rise was a reflection of working people feeling they were going economically backwards in a wealthy country, YouGov director of public data Paul Smith said.
“Our polling shows that the number one reason for backing One Nation is not the leader, but the feeling of being unrepresented by the two major parties,” he told AAP.
“For One Nation to win and keep the votes they have, they need to address the economic problems faced by working people about wages, housing, and generally being on their side of the economy.”
Mr Smith said there was a point in the lead up to an election when it stopped being a referendum on the government, and it became a choice, which was when voters began looking at the detail.
A number of opinion polls have shown One Nation now leads political parties as Australians’ first choice, while support for the coalition has plunged to record lows.
Senator Hanson is the preferred prime minister.
During her wide-ranging speech she pledged to boost regulation of AI, abolish the SBS and slash taxpayer funds to the ABC.
Senator Hanson said a One Nation government would introduce nuclear energy into the national grid.
The speech on Wednesday afternoon was interrupted when a remote-controlled banner was slowly unfurled behind her on the stage that read: “I opposed a pay rise to workers.”
GetUp chief executive Paul Ferris claimed responsibility for the stunt, which has been referred to federal police.
The National Press Club said two people entered the venue on Tuesday afternoon and without permission, installed a drop down screen.
None of its staff or contractors had any involvement, the club said.
“We have referred the relevant footage and other evidence to the AFP for further investigation,” it said in a statement.
“When the investigation has concluded, the club will consider its legal options against the perpetrators including recovering costs for the significant damage to the media wall/light box.
“The club sincerely apologises to Senator Hanson for the incident.”
Demonstrators also protested against One Nation outside the press club before Senator Hanson’s speech.
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