Labor’s Desperate Bid to Stop Pauline Hanson: A $42 Donation to Save Your Super
- Labor launches a series of digital fundraising pitches to combat One Nation’s rising influence, with donations starting from $5
- The party’s strategy: bind Hanson and the Coalition together in voters’ minds as partners in a shared agenda
- One Nation’s adaptability and ability to pivot on policy positions poses a significant challenge to Labor’s attacks
- The upcoming WA state by-election in Secret Harbour could be a crucial test for both Labor and One Nation
The Labor Party is sounding the alarm, and it’s asking for your help – and your money.
In a series of digital fundraising pitches, the party is urging supporters to donate as little as $5 to help combat the rising influence of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
But it’s not just about the cash; it’s about the message.
Labor is increasingly trying to tie Hanson and the Coalition together in voters’ minds as partners in a shared agenda, and it’s using some clever tactics to do it.
The varying price tags attached to the fundraising pitches offer a window into Labor’s strategy.
One ad on Instagram asks for a $10 donation, claiming One Nation is “rising” and the “hard truth” is the Liberals can “only form government with Pauline Hanson”.
Another post, addressed to “everyone who wants to stop One Nation”, asks for a $30 donation to help train party volunteers. The message is clear: Labor sees One Nation as a significant threat, and it needs your help to take it down.
But One Nation isn’t taking the attacks lying down.
After Labor asked supporters for a $27 donation to help fight Hanson in June, One Nation launched its “Fire the Liar” campaign in response and raised more than $4 million in just five days.
The amount of “earned media” – i.e. free publicity – Hanson’s fundraising campaign attracted was unprecedented by Australian political standards.
Despite this, Hanson has either plateaued or slipped a little in the polls following scrutiny on some of her policy positions. But as Labor moves against one populist idea, another rises in its place.
Yesterday it was superannuation, today it is slashing the tobacco excise under the highly contested notion it would quash the illicit cigarette market.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
Labor’s strategy to bind Hanson and the Coalition together in voters’ minds has significant implications for national politics. If successful, it could spell trouble for the Coalition’s chances of forming government.
But One Nation’s adaptability and ability to pivot on policy positions poses a significant challenge to Labor’s attacks. As security analysts say, “One Nation’s ability to jettison previous positions without blowback from voters is a key advantage”.
Law enforcement insiders warn that One Nation’s influence could have serious consequences for community safety. “If One Nation’s policies are implemented, it could lead to a rise in illicit activities and undermine the rule of law,” they say.
Industry observers believe that Labor’s strategy could be a double-edged sword. “While it may help to galvanize Labor’s base, it could also drive moderate voters towards One Nation,” they caution.
The upcoming WA state by-election in Secret Harbour could be a crucial test for both Labor and One Nation.
The outer-suburban string of coastal towns south of Perth form exactly the sort of electorate where a mix of mortgage pressure, rapid population growth, and voters willing to look beyond the major parties could prove a winning combination for One Nation.
As one Labor source told this column, “Secret Harbour is exactly the type of seat One Nation could win. Where if not there?”
