One Nation Policies Are Resonating. Rather Than Mock Them, the Coalition May Need to Listen

Australian conservative politics is entering a period of strategic uncertainty.

For years, the Liberal and National parties largely viewed Pauline Hanson's One Nation as a protest movement — noisy, disruptive, occasionally influential, but ultimately peripheral to the main machinery of federal government.

That assumption may no longer be safe.

Across regional Australia, outer suburban electorates and parts of working Australia, One Nation policies are increasingly resonating with voters who once formed the reliable backbone of Coalition support.

The recent political trend lines suggest something important: conservative voters are not necessarily abandoning conservative values. Rather, many believe the traditional conservative parties have abandoned them.

That distinction matters enormously.

The Coalition’s Conservative Dilemma

The Liberal Party in particular faces an increasingly difficult balancing act.

In metropolitan electorates, the party has attempted to remain competitive against Labor, the Greens and Climate 2000-backed independents by presenting more moderate positions on climate policy, energy transition, social policy and corporate regulation.

But in doing so, many traditional voters believe the Coalition has drifted away from the priorities of ordinary middle Australia.

Those voters often point to:

• Rising electricity prices

• Housing affordability

• Immigration pressures

• Cost of living

• Fuel prices

• Regional infrastructure concerns

• Agricultural regulation

• Perceived overreach from bureaucracy and activists

One Nation has aggressively targeted those frustrations.

And increasingly, the party’s message is finding an audience.

Preference One Nation in All Seats?

Within conservative circles, discussion is intensifying over whether the Coalition should formally and strategically embrace One Nation preferences more comprehensively.

Some conservatives argue the political arithmetic is becoming unavoidable.

Their reasoning is straightforward.

Labor benefits from preference flows originating from the Greens and progressive independents. While there may not be a formal coalition arrangement between Labor and the Greens federally, the practical reality of Australian preferential voting often means progressive parties and candidates help deliver victories to Labor.

Conservative strategists increasingly argue that the right side of politics should respond with equivalent tactical discipline.

That would mean:

• Preferencing One Nation ahead of Labor and the Greens

• Building broader conservative alliances

• Reducing fragmentation on the political right

• Focusing on shared policy objectives rather than internal rivalries

Supporters of this approach argue conservative vote splitting has repeatedly handed victory to Labor in closely contested seats.

Building a Coalition Against the Greens, Climate 2000 and GetUp

Many conservative voters increasingly see modern Australian politics not as a traditional Labor-versus-Liberal contest, but as a broader ideological struggle between progressive activism and economic conservatism.

Groups such as Climate 200 and GetUp! are viewed by critics as highly organised political influence networks capable of reshaping electorates through targeted campaigning, fundraising and activist mobilisation.

Climate and energy policy has become central to this divide.

The Greens and Climate 200-backed independents continue pushing for accelerated decarbonisation, renewable energy expansion and aggressive emissions reduction targets.

Critics argue these policies often fail to adequately consider:

• Electricity affordability

• Reliability concerns

• Manufacturing competitiveness

• Regional employment

• Agricultural impacts

• Energy security

One Nation has capitalised on these anxieties by positioning itself as a defender of “practical Australia” — particularly regional communities, tradespeople, small business operators and working families.

Some Coalition supporters now argue the Liberal and National parties must either adapt to this political reality or risk losing their conservative base entirely.

Why One Nation Appeals to Some Voters

The attraction of One Nation is not solely ideological.

Part of the appeal is emotional and cultural.

Many voters supporting One Nation believe the party is willing to speak openly about issues they feel major parties avoid or soften.

That includes debates surrounding:

• Immigration levels

• National identity

• Rural decline

• Cost-of-living pressures

• Energy affordability

• Government spending

• Distrust of political elites

• Concerns about globalisation

Whether critics agree with those positions or not, dismissing or mocking those voters has often proven politically counterproductive.

In fact, some analysts argue ridicule from media and political opponents can strengthen outsider movements by reinforcing perceptions that establishment institutions are disconnected from ordinary Australians.

The “Middle Australia” Question

One Nation’s growing support is not necessarily confined to traditional protest voters.

Increasingly, the party appears to be attracting sections of what politicians often call “middle Australia” — wage earners, regional families, retirees, tradespeople, farmers and small business owners.

These voters are often not ideological extremists.

Rather, they may simply feel economically pressured and politically unheard.

Many believe modern politics increasingly prioritises symbolic debates while everyday financial pressures worsen.

Electricity bills.

Mortgage repayments.

Insurance costs.

Fuel prices.

Food inflation.

Rental stress.

For these voters, practical concerns frequently outweigh ideological branding.

This explains why some One Nation policies resonate beyond the party’s traditional support base.

Climate Change and the Political Divide

Climate policy remains perhaps the single greatest dividing line within Australian conservative politics.

The Coalition has attempted to support emissions reduction while also maintaining support for industry and regional economies.

However, critics from the right argue the party’s approach lacks clarity and conviction.

One Nation has instead embraced a more sceptical and economically cautious position regarding rapid energy transition policies.

The party argues Australia should prioritise:

• Affordable electricity

• Reliable baseload power

• Domestic manufacturing competitiveness

• Energy independence

• Gradual transition rather than rapid disruption

This message resonates particularly strongly in regions dependent on mining, agriculture, manufacturing and transport industries.

Importantly, many voters supporting this approach are not necessarily rejecting climate science outright. Rather, they are questioning the pace, cost and implementation of policy responses.

That distinction is often politically significant.

Could the Coalition and One Nation Work Together?

The idea remains controversial.

Critics warn that moving too close to One Nation could alienate moderate urban voters, business communities and socially progressive conservatives.

Supporters counter that ignoring conservative grassroots sentiment poses an even greater long-term threat.

This is now the strategic dilemma confronting the Liberal and National parties.

Attempting to remain all things to all voters may no longer be sustainable.

Some commentators believe Australian politics may increasingly resemble developments seen overseas, where traditional centre-right parties either:

• Absorb populist conservative movements

• Form alliances with them

• Or lose substantial voter support to them

The next few election cycles may determine which path Australia follows.

The Risk of Ignoring the Shift

Perhaps the greatest political risk for the Coalition is assuming dissatisfaction will eventually disappear.

History suggests voters who feel ignored often continue searching for alternatives until they find parties willing to articulate their frustrations directly.

One Nation has become one of those outlets.

The party’s supporters increasingly argue it offers something many conservative voters believe has been lost in modern politics:

Clarity.

Whether one agrees with One Nation policies or not, the broader political trend is becoming difficult to ignore.

Many Australians appear increasingly willing to support parties promising major political and policy disruption.

A Political Realignment?

Australia may be entering a new phase of political realignment.

Progressive politics has become increasingly organised through Labor, the Greens, activist movements and climate-focused independents.

The question now confronting conservatives is whether fragmented centre-right politics can remain electorally competitive against that structure.

Some believe a broader conservative alliance involving the Liberal Party, Nationals and One Nation may eventually become politically necessary.

Others believe such a move would fundamentally reshape Australian politics and potentially deepen national divisions.

Either way, the old assumptions about One Nation being politically irrelevant are becoming harder to sustain.

For a growing number of voters, the party is no longer simply a protest movement.

It is increasingly viewed as a political vehicle for Australians who believe the major parties stopped listening long ago.