New poll suggests One Nation could be kingmaker in Queensland election

THE One Nation leader’s power is on the up with a new poll suggesting she could decide who becomes the next Queensland premier.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has seen a surge in support ahead of the Queensland election. Picture: Gary Ramage

ONE Nation leader Pauline Hanson could be on the brink of her biggest political breakthrough yet with polls suggesting she is on course to be the kingmaker in Queensland’s state elections and decide who becomes premier.

On October 29, current premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called a snap November 25 election sending voters to the ballot box two months early.

She’ll be fighting for the top spot with Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Tim Nicholls.

Last week, Ms Hanson accused Ms Palaszczuk of being “cowardly” for calling the election while she was away on a parliamentary trip to India, meaning the One Nation leader would miss the first week of campaigning.

But the overseas absence doesn’t appear to have hurt the party.

One Nation could secure almost 20 per cent of the Queensland vote. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas.

While Labor leads the LNP 52 per cent to 48 per cent on a two party preferred basis, the Galaxy Poll for the Courier Mail states One Nation could pick up a whopping 18 per cent of the state’s votes.

With all parties taken into account, Labor’s vote reduces to 35 per cent and the LNP’s to 32 per cent. That would mean Ms Hanson’s support will be vital in getting either party over the line.

One Nation is actually polling below their 1998 high of almost 23 per cent.

However pollsters have said a strategy of focusing on fewer, more competitive electorates could see them win seats.

While Mr Nicholls has said there will be no formal coalition with One Nation, he hasn’t ruled out a looser agreement that could see the LNP create a minority government with Ms Hanson’s backing.

The poll of almost 900 Queenslanders, published on Saturday, also shows the Greens vote has increased to nine per cent, possibly due to ructions over the controversial Adani coal mine proposals.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is under fire over the Adani coal mine.

What’s certain is both major parties have much to worry about.

The LNP will be concerned the new poll showed its numbers were sinking with a four per cent drop in support while Labor held its ground.

In addition, far fewer Queenslanders prefer Mr Nicholls as premier than Ms Palaszczuk.

But it’s not plain sailing for Labor either. Ms Palaszczuk has been forced to deny a conflict of interest over a federal loan assessment to Adani after it emerged her partner worked on the mining giant’s application for the cash.

On Friday, Ms Palaszczuk pledged to veto the $1 billion federal loan for the controversial Carmichael coal mine, saying her government would play no future role in its assessment.

Ms Palaszczuk revealed her husband Shaun Drabsch, in his capacity as infrastructure advisory director for PwC, worked on Adani’s application for the loan under the Commonwealth’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF).

Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls is struggling to convince voters he or his party should lead. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

However, Ms Palaszczuk accused LNP senators in Canberra of a “smear campaign” and “circulating rumours” about Mr Drabsch.

“I am told they planned to use this during the election campaign to impugn my character and suggest something untoward,” the premier told reporters.

Ms Palaszczuk insisted there had been nothing untoward and she had not known about her partner’s involvement as part of PwC’s work to secure a loan from the NAIF.

To veto the loan, Ms Palaszczuk will need Mr Nicholls’ endorsement, as the government is currently in caretaker mode.

But he doesn’t seem keen to play ball.

“If, as the premier claims, all necessary conflict of interest measures are correct and above board, why has she put thousands of jobs at risk with this extraordinary backflip?”

There was better news for Ms Palaszczuk in the preferred premier stakes with 43 per cent of Queenslanders choosing her over Mr Nicholls. But 28 per cent said they were uncommitted to either.

— with AAP