Galaxy poll: One Nation on track to choose who governs Queensland

PAULINE Hanson could hand-pick Queensland’s next premier following a huge surge in support for One Nation since the political firebrand’s renaissance as a federal senator.

PAULINE Hanson could hand-pick Queensland’s next premier following a huge surge in support for One Nation since the political firebrand’s renaissance as a federal senator.

A new Galaxy Poll, conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail this week, has revealed more than one in six Queenslanders have thrown their support behind One Nation.

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Ms Hanson’s re-emergence as a power player in Queensland politics has stripped votes off every other party, with support for the Tim Nicholls-led LNP freefalling by 6 per cent.

The controversial and cashed-up political outfit is determined to run candidates in all 93 electorates at the next Queensland election, which is due within 18 months.

One Nation senators-elect Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts. Picture: Peter Wallis

Labor’s decision to outlaw “Just Vote 1” electoral laws could now allow One Nation to emulate or even eclipse its historic 1998 result, in which it pinched 11 seats from the major parties.

Amid shrinking Labor and LNP support, One Nation would hold the balance of power after the next election with the authority to pick which party leader to put in the government’s William St headquarters.

According to the Galaxy Poll of almost 1000 Queenslanders, the LNP’s primary support of 44 per cent shrivelled to 38 per cent, while Labor shrank from 36 per cent to 33 per cent. The Greens, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) and other minor political outfits all suffered declines.

One Nation commanded 16 per cent, a result similar to its support in the months before the 1998 election at which it ultimately secured 22.7 per cent of the vote.

On a two-party basis under compulsory preferencing, Labor and the LNP are now locked on 50 per cent each with the rise of One Nation depriving the Opposition of its lead.

Despite declines in their party’s vote, both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mr Nicholls experienced improved support for their performance.

Voter satisfaction with Ms Palaszczuk improved from 44 per cent to 46 per cent while the number dissatisfied fell from 39 per cent to 31 per cent. The result will buoy Labor after a steep decline in satisfaction with the Premier’s performance over the past 12 months.

Mr Nicholls also experienced improved satisfaction with his performance with a 6 per cent increase in the number of voters who approve of his efforts. However, he has drifted in the preferred premier stakes, falling 3 per cent to 26 per cent while Ms Palaszczuk remained on 44 per cent.