Support for One Nation has leapt from 16 per cent to 23 per cent in past three months, poll shows

PAULINE Hanson is on the fast track to become Queensland’s unofficial preferred premier with support for One Nation surging past the party’s historic result at the 1998 election.

Source: Galaxy Poll

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PAULINE Hanson is on the fast track to become Queensland’s unofficial preferred premier with support for One Nation surging past the party’s historic result at the 1998 election.

A new Galaxy Poll, conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail, has revealed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s popularity has nosedived while both Labor and the LNP have haemorrhaged support.

Despite a string of candidate disendorsements, a policy void and public infighting, One Nation could clinch more than 20 seats at the next Queensland election, which is expected late this year.

The hard-Right party, whose renaissance has drawn comparisons with the rise of US President Donald Trump, appears certain to hold the balance of power in the new 93-seat Queensland parliament with the muscle to ­dictate terms.

The new poll, taken this week, shows One Nation’s support has leapt from 16 per cent to 23 per cent over the past three months as the Queensland Senator regularly toured the regions and poached Buderim MP Steve Dickson from the LNP.

The result surpasses the 22.6 per cent of the vote One Nation achieved in 1998 when it snared 11 seats and finished second in 23 other electorates.

Source: Galaxy Poll

Labor’s rushed introduction of compulsory preferential voting will now allow One Nation to convert high levels of support into seats throughout regional areas and pockets of the southeast corner.

Regional Labor electorates, including Thuringowa, Mundingburra, Mulgrave, Bundaberg, Keppel and Ipswich West, along with outer urban seats like Springwood, Waterford and Pumicestone, will be in One Nation’s crosshairs.

The party will also target LNP electorates like Lockyer, Whitsunday, Glass House, Burdekin and Hervey Bay.

Labor, which has vowed not to govern with One Nation, had been clinging to the hope Ms Palaszczuk’s popularity would shelter the party from the Hanson-induced ­tsunami.

However, the poll shows Ms Palaszczuk’s standing as preferred premier slumped 7 per cent to 39 per cent while LNP leader Tim Nicholls remains marooned on a lowly 27 per cent.

Mr Nicholls has been surpassed by the “uncommitted” column which has swelled to a staggering 34 per cent, a rebuff for both leaders and an unofficial vote for Senator Hanson as preferred premier.

The result will heap pressure on both leaders, who have been unable to plug leaking support as voters spurn the traditional two-party duopoly.

Source: Galaxy Poll

One Nation’s additional support was stripped in equal proportions from Labor and the LNP with both parties slumping 4 per cent. Other minor parties were unscathed.

Labor dropped from 35 per cent to 31 per cent while the LNP fell from 37 per cent to 33 per cent.

While Labor leads the LNP 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis, the presence of a third party with such significant support could deliver wildly sporadic results.

Ms Palaszczuk’s frequent trips to regional Queensland since returning from holidays has not helped the Premier’s standing with satisfaction with her performance falling from 44 per cent to 41 per cent however her dissatisfaction fell from 39 per cent to 37 per cent.

Mr Nicholls fared worse despite his effort at presenting a more earthy image with his satisfaction slipping from 31 per cent to 27 per cent and dissatisfaction rising from 35 per cent to 39 per cent.