Western Australia’s Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas says Pauline Hanson’s One Nation “deserves respect” and should not be ignored, signalling he is open to finding ways to work with the minor party as its support climbs to unprecedented levels.
A new Newspoll published by The Australian shows One Nation capturing 31 per cent of the national primary vote ahead of Labor on 30 per cent and the Coalition on 18 per cent marking the first time the party has topped a major national poll. The survey of 1,240 voters reflects a dramatic 12‑month surge driven by policies centred on sharply reducing immigration, economic nationalism and expanding coal and gas production.
In one of his first major speeches to WA’s business community as Liberal leader, Zempilas said dismissing One Nation would be a mistake. “To ignore them would be to ignore the will of the people,” he told the audience, acknowledging the party’s growing influence across the country.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently conceded that One Nation’s rising popularity was a factor behind the government’s decision to pursue contentious tax reforms in this year’s federal budget a rare acknowledgment of the party’s expanding political weight.
Zempilas used his speech to outline six policy commitments that drew applause, including building a new hospital in Yanchep, mandating lighting on trains to improve safety at level crossings, extending Sunday morning trading hours, lifting the state’s ban on uranium mining and increasing transparency around government spending to attract major events.
As One Nation reshapes the national political landscape, Zempilas’s remarks signal a pragmatic shift one that recognises the party’s growing voter base and the likelihood it will play a larger role in future political negotiations.
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