Regional Queensland voters are reconsidering their support for major political parties, with Pauline Hanson's One Nation surging ahead of Labor in a new opinion poll for the first time. The survey of about 1,000 people by RedBridge Group and Accent Research, published by the Australian Financial Review, showed One Nation at 30 percent compared to Labor's 28 percent.
Eighteen-year-old Jake Tanti from Mackay, who was not old enough to vote in the 2025 federal election, said One Nation had captured his attention on social media. Noel Flor, a former Coalition voter, said the party was not keeping the public in view and that Labor had 'gone to the pots,' indicating he might vote for One Nation in the next election.
Peter Comino from Rockhampton said he was 'not happy' with Australian politics and would reconsider his vote. Victorian couple Colleen and Jim Bunny, who typically voted Labor, said they would not repeat that in the 2028 election, with Jim noting that Senator Hanson had become more eloquent and was listening to the people.
Senator Hanson told ABC Radio Brisbane she believed she could be prime minister 'if that's what people want,' and did not rule out vying for a lower house seat. Griffith University political scientist Sarah Cameron said the rise of One Nation reflects long-term trends of declining partisanship and increasing voter volatility.
