A majority of Australians approve of Pauline Hanson's leadership of One Nation, giving her a higher job approval rating than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. The rightwing populist party has also outperformed the Coalition in primary votes for the first time.
The poll of 1,067 Australians found 52% approved of Hanson's performance as leader, with only 34% disapproving. She had positive ratings across all age groups, including 48% approval among 18-34-year-olds, and among both men (56%) and women (49%). Her approval was highest in Queensland at 59%.
In contrast, Albanese's approval stood at 41% with 51% disapproval, while Taylor had 34% approval and 34% disapproval. One Nation's primary vote rose to 25%, edging ahead of the Coalition's 24%, with Labor leading on 30%.
The poll also revealed growing pessimism among Australians, with 54% believing the country is on the wrong track and only 14% expecting economic improvement in the next six months. Essential Media's executive director Peter Lewis attributed Hanson's popularity to her strong approval ratings.
