One Nation’s Strong South Australian Showing Forces Liberals to Rethink Strategy
The recent South Australian state election has delivered a significant jolt to the Liberal Party, as One Nation achieved its most impressive electoral result in decades. This surge in support for Pauline Hanson’s right-wing party has left the Liberals scrambling to address a growing political threat, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a stark warning against divisive anti-immigration rhetoric.
In the wake of the election, preliminary counts revealed that more than one in five voters in South Australia placed One Nation first on their ballot paper. This strong performance saw the anti-immigration party secure second place, trailing only the Labor Party, which romped back into power with a landslide victory. The Liberal opposition, by contrast, was relegated to third place.
While Prime Minister Albanese did not directly comment on the specific election outcome on Sunday, he delivered a significant address to Melbourne’s Vietnamese community. In his speech, he strongly cautioned against any individuals or groups seeking to demonise migrants. “There are some, including some in political life, who want to turn back the clock to an Australia that is no longer who we are,” the PM stated. He continued, “We need to call out those people. And we need to continue to cherish our diversity as a strength for our nation, which it is.”
The election night success translated into tangible gains for One Nation, with the party securing two seats in the state’s upper house. This included a win for state leader and former federal senator Cory Bernardi. Furthermore, One Nation was in contention for as many as four lower-house seats, indicating a broader reach than previously anticipated.
Meanwhile, Premier Peter Malinauskas is set to command a substantial majority in the state parliament, holding at least 32 of the 47 lower-house seats. This victory further solidifies Labor’s position.
For the Liberal Party, the results have been a stark wake-up call. Senior moderate Liberal and federal frontbencher Anne Ruston acknowledged the need for reflection, stating that her colleagues must learn “sobering lessons” from the outcome. “The Liberal Party has got a lot of work to do to rebuild the trust of Australians,” she told Sky News. “I absolutely believe that we can do that… we just haven’t been telling our story very well.”
However, not all Liberals share the same perspective. Conservative Liberal senator Alex Antic, a significant figure within the South Australian Liberal branch, argued that the election result highlighted the ineffectiveness of his party’s pursuit of more progressive policies. “That left-leaning, progressive… message is tailored to inner-city seats,” he commented. “That is just simply a failed strategy and it won’t work.” When pressed about the possibility of switching allegiance to One Nation, Senator Antic did not rule it out but indicated he had not spoken with Senator Hanson and had no immediate plans to change parties.
One Nation’s performance in South Australia marks its most successful electoral outing since the 1998 Queensland election. Interestingly, some national voter surveys have indicated even higher federal support for the party, surpassing the 22 per cent of first preferences it secured in South Australia.
On election night, Senator Hanson herself indicated that the national political landscape would be closely observing the South Australian results. She pointed to upcoming events, including a federal by-election in the seat of Farrer, previously held by Liberal leader Sussan Ley, and the Victorian state election scheduled for 2026, as key indicators of the party’s potential future success.
Despite One Nation out-polling the Coalition in South Australia, the party’s sole federal lower-house MP, Barnaby Joyce, acknowledged that winning seats at the federal level might still present challenges. He noted that preferences in the South Australian vote generally tended to flow away from the right-wing party. “That’s a good example to the Australian people that if you want the change… you’ve got to put One Nation first,” the Nationals defector remarked.
The implications of this South Australian result are far-reaching. It signals a potential shift in the political landscape and underscores the growing influence of parties like One Nation. For the Liberal Party, it necessitates a deep introspection into their policy platforms and communication strategies to effectively reconnect with a broader base of voters. The Prime Minister’s call for vigilance against divisive rhetoric also highlights the ongoing tension between multiculturalism and anti-immigration sentiments in Australian politics. The coming months will likely see increased focus on how these political forces interact and shape future electoral contests.
