Voters in the Queensland state election have rejected One Nation, with the centre-right party failing to win a single seat.
Pauline Hanson‘s homosexual political advisor James Ashby got just 25.6% of the primary vote in Keppel, and will now return to his job as her chief of staff, he confirmed on Sunday.
Former two-term One Nation MP Stephen Andrew, now with Katter’s Australia Party after being dumped by Ms Hanson in August, is projected to win in neighbouring Mirani and said his previous party has become “less relevant”.
“Look at the money spent in Keppel, the hardships the sitting member was going through and they couldn’t pull it off,” Mr Andrew said.
“Here I am in Mirani next door, without their brand or anything and still doing well. It goes to show the One Nation brand isn’t strong.”
Thank you, Queensland, for helping One Nation get rid of Steven Miles and his terrible Labor Government.
At the beginning of our campaign, we pledged that One Nation would ensure Labor and the Greens went last because Queensland could not afford another Labor Government.
One… pic.twitter.com/CtN97fOzeC
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) October 27, 2024
Mr Ashby, who is widely expected to be succeed Ms Hanson as One Nation leader when she retires, was asked by the ABC on Saturday night whether disendorsing Mr Andrew was a mistake.
“No, not at all, lazy people don’t get a chance here at One Nation. If you’re not prepared to work hard over seven years, two terms of parliament I’m sorry there’s not a place here for you. And we are very happy to put him down below the LNP at this election,” he said.
Ms Hanson responded to the results with an upbeat post on Sunday, saying her party had delivered on a pledge to ensure Labor and the Greens were put last, and saying “thank you, Queensland, for helping One Nation get rid of Steven Miles and his terrible Labor Government”.
Former One Nation political advisor and ex-Liberal MP Craig Kelly addressed One Nation’s poor showing hours later, calling the result “disappointing”, and pointing out that if Queenslanders vote the same way at next year’s federal election One Nation would not win a senate seat.
“And although One Nation was up a notional 0.7% from the last QLD state election – this is substantially down from the 13.7% they achieved in 2017. The reality is that 43% of people that voted One Nation in QLD in 2017 have abandoned the party,” Mr Kelly wrote on X.
“Could I suggest to One Nation that we love your cartoon series, but by making Albanese ‘the star’ all you are doing is shifting votes away from Labor to the Liberals – with no electoral benefit to One Nation.
“One Nation’s policies are generally exactly what Australia needs, but the voting & polling show that the message is not get through and they need a re-think.”
It was good to see the Queensland Labor Government get smashed with a swing of around 7% against them.
However, the Pauline Hanson’s One Nation result was sadly disappointing.
They only managed 7.8% of the vote and didn‘t win any seats (while Katters Australia won 3 seats) and… pic.twitter.com/bOb50rOhJA
— Craig Kelly (@craigkellyXXX) October 27, 2024
He then asked his followers what they thought One Nation could do differently and better, and got a variety of answers, with several suggesting a lack of volunteers and grassroots organisation was to blame.
“There was no One Nation representative or how to vote card at my voting spot in Noosa. They need a presence everywhere,” one said.
“Actually call people who are paid members who put their hands up to volunteer. That’d be great,” said another.
“Two elections in a row – no contact from Scenic Rim candidates either year. I went to a local event too. I could have swayed tonnes of votes if I’d been given a shirt and some leaflets. We could easily have come in above Labor with more boots on the ground.
“There was only one person manning the PHON tent with heaps of people trying to speak to the volunteer – many didn’t get a chance to ask their questions and may have just voted LNP instead.”
Another said: “I had friends in One Nation who were phoning me up and asking if I could volunteer for state candidates. I asked how is it they have a candidate in every seat, but not enough volunteers?
“Apparently they don’t hold branch meetings. Which seems absurd considering the party’s popularity I like their policies and I think Australia needs them. But the party structure is deeply flawed.”
Others blamed Mr Ashby, Ms Hanson’s support for Israel, party infighting, and biased corporate media coverage.
“Let me address the elephant in the room. James Ashby is Pauline Hanson’s Chief of staff. James Ashby has a chequered past. He does not resonate with Queenslanders.
Pauline Hanson really needs to choose her candidates wisely if she seriously wants a crack at QLD state politics,” wrote one supporter on X.
“James Ashby is why, Craig. Who is he? That’s the million dollar question,” said another in response to Mr Kelly’s post.
Header image credit: Pauline Hanson (X)
