Queensland Election 2017: Senator Fraser Anning’s defection turns off One Nation voters

TWO in five voters are now less likely to back One Nation in Queensland, a news poll shows, and it was all triggered by Malcolm Roberts’ departure from federal politics.

Senator Fraser Anning in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

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ONE Nation Senator Fraser Anning’s dramatic defection has turned Queenslanders off Pauline Hanson’s party and may damage its prospects at the November 25 election.

A statewide Courier-Mail Galaxy poll conducted late last week has revealed two out of five Queenslanders were now less likely to support One Nation.

The result will buoy both major parties who have been desperately trying to lure voters away from One Nation ahead of one of the tightest and most unpredictable Queensland elections for decades.

Senator Fraser Anning replaced Malcolm Roberts as One Nation senator for Queensland and then immediately became an independent. Picture Gary Ramage

Senator Anning replaced Malcolm Roberts, who was forced out amid the dual citizenship debacle and is now running for the ultra-safe Labor seat of Ipswich.

Mr Roberts’ exit came after One Nation’s West Australian senator Rod Culleton was ejected from the Senate over bankruptcy and replaced with his brother-in-law Peter Georgiou.

Senator Anning departed One Nation within an hour of being sworn in, however there was heated argument over whether he quit or was forced out by Ms Hanson.

The constant changes in One Nation’s sitting Senate team has drawn comparisons with the party’s calamitous disintegration following the 1998 Queensland election when it won 11 seats.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation could suffer at the Queensland election after their new senator’s defection. Picture: Justin Brierty

Senator Anning’s departure reinvigorated Labor’s campaign against the “cuts and chaos” of an LNP government propped up by a One Nation crossbench.

The poll of more than 1000 Queenslanders showed 41 per cent of voters were now less likely to vote for One Nation because of the party’s behaviour in Canberra.

It found 46 per cent were not influenced by Senator Anning’s defection while seven per cent were now more likely to support Senator Hanson’s party.

It comes as a ReachTel poll conducted for Sky News found Labor was leading the LNP 51 to 49 per cent, two-party preferred, on a statewide basis.

This compares to the Galaxy poll conducted for The Courier-Mail at the end of the first week of the campaign which had Labor leading the LNP 52 per cent to 48 per cent, two party preferred.

ReachTEL also polled three seats – Ferny Grove, Thuringowa and Whitsunday – with One Nation’s vote softening.

It found Labor would retain Ferny Grove easily, leading the LNP 54 per cent to 46 per cent, two-party preferred, but was neck and neck with One Nation in Thuringowa and with the LNP in the seat of Whitsunday.

The Thuringowa result is an improvement for Labor on a Newspoll at the weekend which had One Nation leading at 54 per cent to 46 per cent, two-party preferred.

Originally published as Queensland Election 2017: Senator Fraser Anning’s defection turns off One Nation voters