One Nation's Working-Class Wave: A Revolt Against the Two-Party Tyranny! By James Reed
The Sky News bombshell on One Nation's polling surge feels like a seismic shift. The article today, February 11, 2026, unpacks a fresh Sky News Pulse poll that has Pauline Hanson's party punching above its weight, especially among working-class voters. The rise is easy to explain because Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition are just two sides of the same corrupt coin, selling out everyday Aussies to shadowy globalist agendas.
The Poll That Shook the Duopoly: Numbers Don't Lie
Conducted by YouGov from February 3-10, 2026, with a solid sample of 1,561 representative voters, the Sky News Pulse reveals One Nation isn't just nipping at heels – it's leading the pack in key demographics. Among working-class voters (think tradies, factory workers, and service folks bearing the brunt of inflation and housing woes), One Nation snags a whopping 34% of the primary vote. That's ahead of Labor at 27% and the Coalition at a dismal 14%. Nationally, the picture's almost as stark: Labor edges out at 30%, One Nation hot on their tail with 28%, and the Coalition languishing at 19%. The Greens hold 12%, independents 5%, and minors 6%.
On a two-party preferred basis, Labor still leads the Coalition 54-46, but against One Nation, it's a tighter 55-45 – signalling a 2% swing toward Hanson's crew. Pollsters are gobsmacked, with experts noting One Nation's eclipse of the Coalition as a "shock" that could spell doom for the Nationals, whose support has cratered from 3.8% in 2025 to just 1% now. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's net satisfaction? A brutal -40 (62% dissatisfied), while PM Anthony Albanese leads her 47-25 as preferred PM, though 28% are undecided. And on economic blame? Two-thirds pin the recent rate hike partly or wholly on Labor.
These aren't fringe figures – they're a clarion call from the battlers, echoing discontent in places like Melbourne's outer suburbs where rents and bills are skyrocketing.
Founded in 1997 by the irrepressible Pauline Hanson, One Nation started as a protest vehicle against immigration, globalisation, and perceived elite overreach. Hanson, a fish-and-chip shop owner turned senator, tapped into rural and regional frustrations, peaking at nearly 23% in Queensland's 1998 state election. But scandals, infighting, and Hanson's 2003 fraud conviction (later overturned) sidelined the party for years. Fast-forward to today: Rebranded under Hanson's leadership, it's shed some baggage and focused on bread-and-butter issues like cost of living, energy prices, and anti-woke rhetoric.
The poll positions One Nation as no longer "fringe" but a "leading force," threatening Labor's hold on outer-suburban seats they snatched from Liberals last cycle. In South Australia One Nation's state branch has been active, polling around 5-10% in recent elections and appealing to voters disillusioned with the major parties' handling of manufacturing decline and energy transitions.
Explaining the Rise: Two Sides of the Same Corrupt Coin?
For many, Labor and the Coalition (Liberals plus Nationals) represent a uniparty illusion: Both cosy up to multinational corps, international bodies like the WHO or UN, and big finance, while everyday Aussies foot the bill. Labor's post-election "honeymoon" has soured with broken promises on power bills (remember "cheaper energy"?) and a migration surge that's strained housing. The Coalition? Mired in leadership woes and seen as out-of-touch elites, with 60% of voters unsure on alternatives to Ley.
This duopoly betrayal fuels One Nation's appeal: Hanson rails against "globalist overlords" – think trade deals that gut local jobs, net-zero policies hitting miners and farmers, and cultural shifts that alienate traditional values. Working-class voters, per the poll, are ditching the majors because they feel betrayed: Labor's union roots seem diluted by progressive alliances, while the Coalition's free-market mantra ignores wage stagnation. Add in economic headwinds – inflation at 4-5%, rates biting, and a two-thirds blame on Labor for hikes – and it's fertile ground for populists.
Experts in the article echo this: One Nation's surge reflects "voter dissatisfaction," with the party "causing havoc" for Coalition strategy. Globally, it's akin to Trump's MAGA or Europe's Right-wing pops – a backlash against establishment "globalism" that prioritises borders, sovereignty, and the little guy over Davos decrees. Why ship jobs overseas while importing record migrants?
If these numbers hold, One Nation could kinghit in a hung parliament, forcing majors to address working-class gripes. For Labor, it's a wake-up: Lose the suburbs, lose the plot. The Coalition? Time for soul-searching, or face "political oblivion" for the Nats. In SA, it might boost minor-party Senate bids, pressuring Malinauskas' government on local issues like water security or renewables.
Broader picture: This isn't just "rise of the Right" – it's democracy's immune response to a system captured by insiders.
One Nation's 34% among working-class voters isn't a fluke – it's the canary in the coal mine for a fed-up electorate. Labor and Liberal have morphed into interchangeable globalist puppets, leaving the common folk in the dust. Whether this heralds real change or just another protest vote, it's a reminder: Ignore the battlers at your peril. In a world of economic uncertainty, Aussies are demanding authenticity – and right now, Hanson's brand is delivering. Keep an eye on the polls; the duopoly's days of dominance might be numbered.
