Pauline Hanson believes Anthony Albanese could call an election late next year as part of a political strategy that would leave any incoming conservative government facing a difficult Senate landscape. Labor and the Greens would be likely to retain effective control of the upper house for months after the vote.
In an exclusive YouTube interview with Daily Mail’s Politics and Economics Editor Peter van Onselen in Wagga Wagga last week, the One Nation leader said she suspected the Prime Minister was preparing a political ambush.
Hanson said she expects Albanese to seek an early election in late 2027. Under that scenario, Labor and the Greens could continue to wield effective Senate control until July 2028, regardless of the election result, because newly elected senators do not begin their terms immediately.
Following a half-Senate election, newly elected senators take office on July 1.
“If he has an election at the end of next year, Labor will still control the Senate till July 2028,” Hanson said.
“That could be a big problem for whoever is (in) government.”
The timing could create major obstacles for a government not led by Labor, including one that depended on One Nation to hold the balance of power—even if the Coalition or another alternative secured a decisive victory at the ballot box.
“We have to work together to get rid of the toxic Labor-Greens government,” she said.
Pauline Hanson (pictured) said she believed Anthony Albanese was preparing to call an early election
“It’s very important that we do that, and I’m not going to be half-hearted about this.”
Hanson also attributed One Nation’s growing support over the past two years to voters reassessing warnings she says she has delivered for decades about immigration, social cohesion and government policy.
“People are going back looking at my speeches, what I’ve said,” she said.
“People are always saying, ‘She’s been warning us about this for so long.’ Now they’re finally—the light switch is going on.”
The One Nation leader has recently pointed to cultural and national security concerns as key reasons some voters are moving towards her party.
But in one of her most direct explanations yet, she singled out two events that she believes helped accelerate that political shift.
“The big turning point was also the Charlie Kirk assassination and also the other one was the Bondi massacre,” Hanson said.
Hanson said the December 14 terror attack at Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, intensified concerns she had been raising for years.
Hanson described the Bondi Beach terror attack as a “turning point” that contributed to rising support for One Nation
“These are things that I’ve spoken about,” she said.
‘I was ridiculed for it, speaking about radical Islam, and I’ve been warning people out there about it.’
‘People are now seeing what’s happening in other countries around the world, they see it happening in Australia and they know that I’m the only one who’s prepared to call it out.’
Hanson also pointed to a growing distrust of mainstream politicians as a major factor behind One Nation’s rise.
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‘People don’t trust politicians, but people know that I’m so patriotic to this country that I say what I mean, I mean what I say, and I’m not two-faced,’ she said.
‘A lot of politicians are.’
Hanson said she believed that One Nation could win the next election.
‘We are in the mix with this and it’s where we’re getting the support from the Australian people,’ she said.
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) said there was an ‘Aunty Pauline effect’ driving the One Nation surge
‘I expect to be treated with a little bit more respect and taken seriously.’
Joyce, who has become one of One Nation’s most valuable assets, said voters were increasingly drawn to Hanson because they viewed her as authentic.
‘At the start people thought Pauline was abrupt,’ Joyce said.
‘Then there was more of what I call the “Aunty Pauline effect”, where people say she’s straight down the barrel, no doubt about that, but it comes from a good place.’
‘People might not agree with everything she says, but they know exactly where she stands.’
The former deputy prime minister said Australians were looking for alternatives as cost-of-living pressures mounted and confidence in traditional parties deteriorated.
‘The Australian people are looking for a dynamism, they’re worried,’ Joyce said.
‘They’re dealing with the cost-of-living crisis, but it’s not just that, it’s what’s caused it. Bad policy.’
Hanson (pictured) said One Nation were not to be underestimated at the next federal election
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Despite questions about whether One Nation has the organisational depth to convert its strong polling into parliamentary seats, Hanson said the party was actively recruiting professional candidates and advisers.
‘Don’t underestimate One Nation because now we’ve got a lot of people from different backgrounds who are jumping on board with us, who want to actually see us succeed and are part of this journey with us,’ she said.
‘We’re building that strong team around us.’
‘Why we’re here is because we want to implement change for this country.’
The latest Newspoll released last Sunday showed One Nation leading on 30 per cent, while Labor slipped two points to 27 per cent.
The Coalition was on 19 per cent and the Greens recorded 13 per cent.