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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recent polling from Sky News Pulse \/ YouGov<\/a>\u00a0has placed One Nation ahead of traditional major party rivals on primary vote support, intensifying pressure on both Labor and the Coalition.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Within Coalition ranks, the focus is increasingly on positioning themselves as the alternative government.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Look, I embrace it. We want change. I want to see change,” Mr Canavan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe election was a\u00a0pretty significant\u00a0victory for the Labor Party, I\u00a0recognised\u00a0that at the time, but just in a year, a\u00a0bunch of people, millions of people have shifted their support,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n He argued voters are looking for a clear alternative and that\u00a0the Coalition must now sharpen its policy direction to win back confidence and present itself as the credible replacement in government.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of change going on in politics right now,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe’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.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He said confidence in the economy had weakened under Labor and must be reversed through policy reform.\u00a0<\/p>\n That includes cutting regulation, reducing tax pressure and improving productivity outcomes, according to the Nationals leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe got a plan to\u00a0lower taxes, to make sure inflation\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0erode your budget every year and by making sure inflation\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0increase your tax bill every year,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat’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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Shadow foreign affairs minister Ted O\u2019Brien echoed the comments of his Coalition colleague, arguing the nation wants change.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nation is crying poor right now and they want to see change,\u201d Mr O’Brien told Sky News on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe message to the Albanese government is clear – Australians are hurting right now, and they are giving up hope. They are calling for change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat 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\u2019s messes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe we can do that if we sell what we have on offer in fixing Labor\u2019s\u00a0mess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Recent polling<\/a>\u00a0shows 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The polling showed 14 per cent of Labor voters had shifted their support to One Nation since the 2025 federal election.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n