Australia's One Nation Party Leads Polls Amid Rising Migration Concerns

A recent Newspoll found One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, as the most popular party in Australia with 31% support, narrowly ahead of the governing Labor Party at 30% and well ahead of the Liberal/National Coalition at 18%. The right‑wing populist party, which previously held only two lower‑house seats and four senate seats, has surged dramatically since the May 2025 federal election, prompting Hanson’s first invitation to speak at the National Press Club in Canberra.

At the same time, net overseas migration to Australia has fallen by about 45% since its 2023 peak, yet public anxiety over migration has risen. A Lowy Institute poll released in 2026 showed that 55% of Australians now believe the number of migrants arriving each year is too high – a record high. Parties such as One Nation and the Coalition are framing migration as a crisis, using the issue to bolster their political appeal.

Analysts compare One Nation’s rapid rise to that of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in the UK, suggesting a significant shift in Australian politics as voters grow disenchanted with mainstream parties on issues like cost‑of‑living, net‑zero targets, and immigration policy.