Source : Perth Now news
Anthony Albanese has played down the One Nation’s meteoric rise in the polls, saying Australia needs “hope and optimism” rather than grievance politics.
The populist far-right party’s primary support has overtaken the Coalition in most national polls since December and made it the second-most popular choice for voters.
Analysts and parliamentarians alike have offered up several explanations, including anger following the Bondi terror attack, dissatisfaction with the Coalition and ex-Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce’s defection.
The Prime Minister on Sunday was dismissive of One Nation, saying Australians were looking for “solutions”.
“One nation a political movement that focus on dividing Australia and pitting Australian against Australian,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.
“I don’t think they come up with positive solutions.
“They amplify grievances rather than come up with solutions.
“And I think that hope and optimism and developing plans for a positive future is what Australia needs.”
Much of One Nation’s rhetoric is linked to migration.
The party has ramped up anti-migrant language in the wake of the Bondi terror attack after it was revealed one of the suspected gunmen was born in India.
The other suspect was an Australian national.
With both suspects Muslims, it has also ramped up its anti-Islam language.
Leader Pauline Hanson has blamed this week sparked fresh controversy by declaring there were “no good Muslims”.
After doubling down several times throughout the week and then issuing a partial apology, the Australian Federal Police said it has “received reports of a crime” relating to Senator Hanson’s remarks.
Airing her anger on social media, she posted: “They are trying to use Labor’s new hate speech laws to put me back in jail.”
She served a brief stint in jail in 2003 for election fraud before her conviction was quashed.
Asked if the polls did not show there were fears that Muslims migrating from regions with conflict might want to bring that conflict with them, Mr Albanese said “the Australian covenant is that if people have any prejudice or hatred that’s left at the customs hall when they arrive in Australia”.
“And overwhelmingly, Australians show respect to each other,” he said.
“Overwhelmingly, Australians, regardless of what their faith is, who they are, what their background is, we overwhelmingly live in harmony in this country.
“It’s important that people in positions of authority, including politicians, promote social cohesion, rather than seek to gain political benefit through opportunistically trying to divide people and trying to raise fear.”
Observers have been looking to the upcoming South Australian election as a test for One Nation’s support.
Polls published this week showed the Liberal Party could be facing an existential threat.
A Newspoll showed One Nation’s core support skyrocketed to 24 per cent while the Liberals’ primary vote collapsed to 14 per cent.
If replicated across the state, the Liberal Party could lose its 13 seats – a threat all the more likely in its tenuously held rural and regional seats.
One Nation’s vote was also double that of the Greens, which sat at just 12 per cent.
A statewide YouGov poll also painted a bleak picture for the Liberals.
It put primary support at 20 per cent for the party, while One Nation climbed to 22 per cent.
Both predicted a landslide win for the Labor state government led by Premier Peter Malinauskas.
