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One Nation Overtakes Major Parties in Queensland Poll

• By Editorial Team • 9 News Australia
queenslandpoliticsone-nationpauline-hansonstate-electionpolling

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has pulled ahead of both major parties on primary vote in new Queensland polling, a result that suggests growing frustration with the state's traditional two-party system.

The figures show One Nation now sits above Labor and the Liberal National Party when voters are asked for their first preference, a position the party has rarely held in state-wide surveys. For a minor party built largely around Hanson's own profile, the numbers mark a notable shift in how Queenslanders are approaching their vote.

Hanson, a Queensland senator and one of the most recognisable figures in Australian politics, has built One Nation's support over three decades on a platform of tougher immigration policy, scepticism toward major-party governance, and appeals to regional and outer-suburban voters who feel overlooked by Brisbane-based politics. The latest polling suggests that message is reaching beyond the party's traditional base.

A mix of factors appears to be behind the swing, including cost-of-living pressure, dissatisfaction with both the state Labor government and the LNP opposition, and a broader pattern of protest voting seen elsewhere in the country over the past year. Minor parties and independents have picked up ground nationally as voters look for alternatives to the two major blocs.

A strong primary vote result does not automatically translate into extra seats. Queensland's electoral system distributes preferences, and One Nation has historically struggled to convert primary support into lower house wins outside a handful of regional seats. Even so, a lead of this size puts pressure on both major parties, since it signals how many voters are prepared to abandon their usual allegiance at the ballot box.

Labor and the LNP are both likely to respond by sharpening their messaging on the issues driving the shift, particularly cost of living and regional services, areas where One Nation has focused its campaigning. Neither major party has commented directly on the new figures, though both are expected to treat the result as a warning sign rather than a one-off.

For Hanson, the polling caps a period in which she has remained one of the more durable figures in federal and state politics, having outlasted several predictions that One Nation's support was fading. Whether the party can hold this level of backing through to an actual election is the key question, but for now it stands as one of the more striking findings from recent Queensland polling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is One Nation polling ahead of the major parties in Queensland?

Analysts point to cost-of-living pressure and voter dissatisfaction with both the state Labor government and the LNP opposition, part of a wider trend of protest voting away from the two major parties.

Does a high primary vote mean One Nation will win more seats?

Not necessarily. Queensland's preferential system means primary vote leads don't always convert into lower house seats, and One Nation has historically won only a handful of regional electorates despite strong primary support.

Who is Pauline Hanson?

Hanson is a Queensland senator and founder of One Nation, a minor party built on tougher immigration policy and appeals to regional and outer-suburban voters, and she has been a fixture of Australian politics for three decades.

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