Australian political parties respond to rising One Nation popularity

Australian major parties are facing increased pressure from One Nation, which has seen its popularity rise from approximately 10% to 30% of voters according to recent polling. One Nation has proposed significant reductions to migration, aiming to slash 750,000 places over a three-year period.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has urged the Labor Party to counter this populist surge through substantive economic reforms rather than moral opposition. Chalmers argued that Labor must avoid becoming the ‘party of the status quo’ by delivering tangible changes in areas such as housing, tax, and negative gearing. He warned that One Nation’s migration policies could damage the economy, while their superannuation and wage policies could negatively impact retirement savings and pay packets.

Simultaneously, the Liberal Party has also adopted more restrictive stances, with Angus Taylor committing to an ‘Australia first migration plan’ to compete with populist rhetoric.