Australians find themselves in new political terrain with one third of voters rejecting the major parties at the last two federal elections. Enter One Nation. As the Coalition implodes, and populism takes hold in other parts of the world, do wins in SA and WA herald One Nation's move from fringe to centre stage in Australian politics? Could Pauline Hanson become PM? Will One Nation replace the National Party in the coalition? How is One Nation's end game shaping Australian politics today? Follow the One Nation trail from 1996 to 2026.

Course Resources

• https://www.onenation.org.au/issues 
• https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/pauline_hanson/divisions
• Podcast series: https://theconversation.com/topics/the-making-of-one-nation-186883 
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-31/one-nation-victoria-energy-policy-announcement/107097686
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2j4q60wlgo
• https://theconversation.com/one-nation-thumps-labor-to-gain-wa-state-seat-of-secret-harbour-at-byelection-290620
• https://theconversation.com/topics/pauline-hansons-one-nation-30029
• https://www.blackwitness.com/p/one-nation-is-not-new-or-unprecedented

Course Outline 

• From fish and chip shop owner to dis-endorsed Liberal candidate to One Nation founder
• "Australia is in danger of being swamped by Asians" - Hanson's first speech to parliament 1996
• One Nation during the Howard years 
• Electoral fraud and political exile 
• A move to the Senate for Pauline Hanson in 2016
• One Nation parliamentarians come and go 
• How is One Nation's populist end game shaping Australian politics today?
• What role does One Nation serve in our political system? 1996 to 2026

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Trace the development of One Nation against developments in Australia and overseas.
• Understand the segment of voters One Nation serves.
• Reflect on the treatment of Pauline Hanson by the political establishment and mainstream media.
• Track the ebb and flow of One Nation seats across Australia
• Discuss the role One Nation serves in our political system
• Evaluate the impact of One Nation's populist end game on Australia over the next ten to twenty years