By Rachael Wong
For three decades, Pauline Hanson has occupied a curious place in Australian politics: derided by the political class, caricatured by the media, and yet persistently supported by a significant segment of the electorate. Today, as One Nation’s popularity rises dramatically and Hanson’s voice is more relevant than ever, it is becoming increasingly clear that this is not an aberration. This is her moment – and it has been a long time coming.
Recent polling illustrates this shift unmistakably: One Nation now polls in the mid to high 20s federally, ahead of both the Liberals and Nationals, and overtaking Labor at the state level in both Victoria and NSW. New polling this week shows that One Nation is now also the most popular party among Australian women, and Hanson herself is reportedly the most popular political leader in the country – a remarkable turnaround for a minor party that has long been underestimated and demonised. This shift is also increasingly reflected in the media. Once treated as persona non grata, Hanson is effectively being “uncancelled”, now appearing across a broad spectrum of outlets, not as a political curiosity, but as a serious political leader.
The reasons are not hard to discern. Across the Western world, voters are growing weary of a political establishment that appears more animated by ideological fashion than by the everyday concerns of its citizens. In Australia, the major parties have either lacked the courage to speak plainly on contentious issues, or have shown great conviction on precisely the wrong ones. Nowhere was this more evident than in the recent debate around hate speech laws following the Bondi terror attack, where legitimate concerns about free speech, freedom of conscience and religion, and open democratic debate were too often brushed aside in favour of symbolic virtue-signalling.
Against this backdrop, One Nation has distinguished itself as one of the few political forces willing to challenge what is loosely described as “woke” or progressive orthodoxy: policies and cultural norms that elevate identity politics above truth, freedom and common sense. Hanson’s willingness to speak openly about immigration levels, multiculturalism, radical Islam, and the erosion of free speech, together with her unashamed patriotism, has made her a lightning rod – but also, increasingly, a refuge for voters who feel politically homeless.
That same dynamic explains the extraordinary reaction to A Super Progressive Movie, a new satirical film associated with Hanson that lampoons the excesses of contemporary progressivism. The film’s packed premieres across the country – reportedly cancelled and then reinstated by several Australian cinemas amid public pressure – were telling. So too was the controversy surrounding a song featured in the film, performed by Australian actress and singer Holly Valance, which briefly topped music charts before being removed from Apple Music and later quietly reinstated. The irony was difficult to miss: a film mocking cancel culture appeared to be “cancelled”, but each attempted suppression simply widened the audience.
For advocates of biological reality and sex-based rights, Hanson’s growing prominence is of particular interest. Whatever one thinks of her style, she has been one of the few parliamentarians prepared to defend genuinely pro-woman policy in an era when the word “woman” itself has become politically fraught. Hanson has consistently spoken out against gender ideology and its real-world consequences for women and children, from the erosion of single-sex spaces and sports to the medicalisation of gender-distressed minors. She has introduced legislation seeking to restore biological definitions of “woman” and “man” in law and called for inquiries into youth gender medicine. In a similar vein, Hanson has also been outspoken about Australia’s extreme abortion laws, particularly with regard to late-term and sex-selective abortion.
Critics are quick to accuse Hanson of divisiveness, populism, or discrimination, particularly in light of her stance on issues like immigration and gender ideology. But they ring hollow when delivered by the people and institutions that have themselves presided over rising social fragmentation, declining trust, and the silencing of legitimate debate. And slurs like “racist” or “bigot” only serve to reinforce the sentiment that Hanson is one of the few politicians willing to defend national cohesion, public safety and social flourishing in the face of aggressive identity politics, and make her even more relatable to those who have experienced the wrath of cancel culture.
The intensity of the current campaign against Hanson from some quarters reveals the extent to which her growing support is unsettling her opponents. Mischaracterised remarks about radical Islam triggered a coordinated media and political class pile-on, with comments widely circulated absent their fuller context and intent. As commentator Andrew Bolt has noted, Hanson was attempting – albeit clumsily – to criticise Islamist extremism rather than ordinary Muslim Australians, a nuance sometimes lost in her blunt delivery. Yet the response has been extraordinary: the remarks have been reported to the Australian Federal Police under the new hate speech laws, and Left-wing activist group GetUp has launched a campaign explicitly aimed at halting her rise.
However, Hanson’s endurance – and her current resurgence – suggests that many Australians are no longer persuaded by the reflexive demonisation of those who challenge progressive orthodoxy. They are looking instead for leaders with clarity, conviction, and a willingness to name problems others prefer to obscure.
Whether One Nation’s rise continues remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Pauline Hanson is speaking into a political vacuum created by the failures of the major parties. Until that vacuum is filled with principled leadership and honest debate, her voice and the movement behind it will continue to resonate. And for those of us committed to free speech, common sense and reality, that is a development worth welcoming.
Rachael Wong is the CEO of Women's Forum Australia
Women’s Forum Australia is an independent think tank that undertakes research, education and public policy advocacy on issues affecting women and girls, with a particular focus on addressing behaviours and practices that are harmful and abusive to them. We are a non-partisan, non-religious, tax-deductible charity. We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations to make an impact. Support our work today.
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