Nationals leader Matt Canavan has embraced the surge in support for Pauline Hanson and One Nation, arguing it reflects a clear voter push for change from Labor. 

Recent polling from Sky News Pulse / YouGov has placed One Nation ahead of traditional major party rivals on primary vote support, intensifying pressure on both Labor and the Coalition.   

Within Coalition ranks, the focus is increasingly on positioning themselves as the alternative government. 

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Canavan said the momentum behind One Nation reflects a desire for political change at the national level, which he supports. 

“Look, I embrace it. We want change. I want to see change,” Mr Canavan said. 

He said Australia is dealing with what he described as a productivity downturn, pointing to long-term economic trends that he argued have worsened under the current government. 

“The election was a pretty significant victory for the Labor Party, I recognised that at the time, but just in a year, a bunch of people, millions of people have shifted their support,” he said. 

He argued voters are looking for a clear alternative and that the Coalition must now sharpen its policy direction to win back confidence and present itself as the credible replacement in government. 

“There’s a lot of change going on in politics right now,” he said. 

“We’ve got a job to convince people over the next couple of years that Angus Taylor, myself, the Liberals and Nationals have a plan to restore confidence in our economy.”   

He said confidence in the economy had weakened under Labor and must be reversed through policy reform. 

That includes cutting regulation, reducing tax pressure and improving productivity outcomes, according to the Nationals leader. 

“We got a plan to lower taxes, to make sure inflation doesn’t erode your budget every year and by making sure inflation doesn’t increase your tax bill every year,” he said. 

“That’s my job, to get out there and fight for that. I’m very proud to do that with a team of patriots who love this country.” 

Shadow foreign affairs minister Ted O’Brien echoed the comments of his Coalition colleague, arguing the nation wants change.

“The nation is crying poor right now and they want to see change,” Mr O’Brien told Sky News on Tuesday. 

“The message to the Albanese government is clear – Australians are hurting right now, and they are giving up hope. They are calling for change.  

“What it means for the Coalition is we have more work to do to convince the Australian people that the Coalition is the only team with a proven track record of fixing Labor’s messes.  

“I do believe we can do that if we sell what we have on offer in fixing Labor’s mess.” 

Recent polling shows One Nation has climbed to 29 per cent on the primary vote, ahead of Labor on 26 per cent and the Coalition on 20 per cent. 

The polling showed 14 per cent of Labor voters had shifted their support to One Nation since the 2025 federal election. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected suggestions that Labor voters were abandoning the party in large numbers, saying polls were just a moment in time. 

Last week, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Ms Hanson was “pretending” to be “patriotic”, when asked if he was worried about the One Nation leader’s shock polling.

“She hates my part of Sydney, and she said so. I love Australia and I love Australia for who we are, not for some fake idea of the nation that we’ve never been,” he said. 

The growing support for One Nation comes following the party’s “Fire the Liar” campaign which was launched after Labor unveiled its own “Stop One Nation” fundraising push.

On Monday, Ms Hanson highlighted a donation heat map linked to the campaign, saying it demonstrated the scale of public anger.  

One Nation said it had received more than 65,000 donations since launching the campaign.

“It proves you’re not alone in your support of ousting Australia’s worst Prime Minister who tells countless lies,” Ms Hanson wrote on X.  

The party has used the campaign to accuse the Prime Minister of dishonesty across a range of policy areas, including immigration, energy, and tax changes.