Barnaby Joyce has attributed a brief boost in One Nation’s polling popularity to the “trust” supporters have in Pauline Hanson despite the same figures showing Anthony Albanese widening his lead against her as preferred prime minister.
The latest News24.com.au Pulse/YouGov poll shows One Nation’s primary vote climbing two percentage points to 26 per cent, trailing Labor, up one percentage point, at 29 per cent.
The Coalition fell to 21 per cent, dropping by one percentage point, while the Greens remained unchanged on 12 per cent.
The August 18-24 survey captured the tail end of the last winter sitting fortnight during which Labor passed its controversial changes to the NDIS and overhauled gambling advertising rules with the support of the Coalition.
And despite One Nation’s increased share of the primary vote, the figures show Mr Albanese leading Senator Hanson 52 to 37 per cent as preferred leader, while 11 per cent remain undecided.
On Wednesday, Mr Joyce insisted these results did not mean Senator Hanson had to work to change her standing in the eyes of the wider Australian public.
“I think Pauline just keeps doing what she’s doing. Obviously, she’s going well,” he said.
“People know who Pauline is. She’s a straight shooter, straight down the barrel, and you know you’re not going to be left wondering what she thinks.
“And I think that in itself brings trust. That’s how people see her. She’s ‘Aunty Pauline’ … and sometimes your aunty says stuff to you that makes you feel uncomfortable and you don’t like.
“But it’s coming from a good place, and it’s coming there from that position of trying to make sure you’re in a better, safer place.”
One Nation was relatively unbothered by changes in polling, Mr Joyce said, describing them as unpredictable.
“We never get ahead of ourselves in the polls. Don’t get upset when I go down. Don’t get all excited when I go up. Just keep one foot going in front of the other and don’t get hubristic,” he said.
“Work hard. Keep the trust of the Australian people.”
More to come