Victoria has been rocked by a new poll showing Pauline Hanson‘s One Nation surging into first place just nine months out from the state election.
A survey conducted by Roy Morgan between 13 and 16 February shows One Nation at 26.5 per cent, narrowly ahead of Labor on 25.5 per cent, while the Liberal–National Coalition trails at 21.5 per cent.
The Greens sit on 13.5 per cent, with 13 per cent backing independents and minor parties, setting the scene for a potential hung state parliament if an election were held today.
Despite One Nation’s surprise primary vote lead, Premier Jacinta Allan’s Labor party still comes out ahead on preferences.
On a classic two-party-preferred basis, Labor leads 52 to 48 against the Jess Wilson’s Coalition and 52.5 to 47.5 against One Nation.
On a three-party-preferred measure, Labor holds 44.5 per cent, ahead of One Nation on 29.5 per cent and the Coalition on 26 per cent.
In a hypothetical run-off between the Coalition and One Nation, the Liberals and Nationals would win decisively, 56 to 44, thanks to Labor voters preferencing One Nation last.
Allan faces grim results, with 51 per cent of voters saying Wilson would make a better premier, compared to just 42.5 per cent for Allan.
One Nation is leading in primary votes in a new poll released by Roy Morgan on Thursday
The poll if repeated at the upcoming November election would result in a hung parliament
Wilson leads among men, all major age groups, and in both Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Allan’s personal approval rating sits at just 30.5 per cent, while 67.5 per cent of respondents disapprove of her performance.
Wilson enjoys a 53 per cent approval rating.
The poll surveyed 2,462 Victorians.
One Nation’s sole Victorian MP, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, said the latest polling reflected the sentiment she encounters across the state.
‘The rise in the polls is welcoming and consistent with the groundswell of support I hear on the ground from my constituents every day,’ she told Daily Mail.
‘People are sick of being completely ignored by the major parties.’
Tyrrell stressed she isn’t taking any support for granted, noting that One Nation is preparing to field candidates in every electorate.
Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell MLC (pictured) said the ‘most important poll’ was the one on election day
‘The most important poll, of course, is on election day, and myself and everyone at One Nation will continue to listen to the Victorian people to bring common sense politics back to our great State.’
The poll dropped amid a growing storm around Allan with the premier twice snapping at reporters over questions surrounding the CFMEU and her ‘Big Build’ infrastructure program on Wednesday and Thursday.
Allan had said victims of alleged CFMEU violence should go to police when Maggio claimed some were too scared to do so.
‘They don’t feel they can report it because they have already uprooted their lives for fear of people that are no longer in the CFMEU, but are controlling the CFMEU,’ she said. ‘You look disinterested.’
Allan demanded the journalist retract the comment and insisted she would not continue with the press conference until she had done so.
‘Can I ask that you retract that last comment,’ she said.
‘Well, Premier, I’m sorry, but—’ Maggio replied.
‘No, no, no, you’re not,’ Allan hit back.
‘For this press conference to continue, I ask that you retract that last observation. I was merely considering my answer to your question.’
A second journalist asked a different question in an attempt to move on, but Allan was having none of it.
‘No, no, no, because I’m not going to stand here and be accused of something I haven’t done, and I would ask that you retract,’ she said.
‘I’m happy to answer other people’s questions, but I can’t unless I have that very clear statement that this allegation of how I was behaving is retracted.
‘It’s up to you, if you’d only do it … I’ll take your silence as agreement that you have retracted your statement.’
Victorians are due to head to the polls on November 28.
