Guardian Australia went to Pakenham, a marginal electorate in Melbourne's outer south-east where One Nation is focusing its campaign, to ask voters about Pauline Hanson's controversial National Press Club speech. The seat is held by Labor on a 0.4% margin, and the sitting MP, Emma Vulin, is not recontesting due to illness. Labor has preselected 23-year-old Alessandra Soliven as its candidate.
Voter reactions to Hanson's policies
Chris Coomber, 52, a steelworker who previously voted Labor, said he plans to vote for One Nation. "They just say what they feel. No bullshit. I mean, she probably lies like the rest of them do. But I actually haven't voted in, like, 12 years. Don't trust any of them. But I'll go back and vote this year." On multiculturalism, Coomber noted changes over 20-30 years, saying people "don't mix any more." He cited migration, crime levels in Melbourne, and over-investment in infrastructure as reasons for distrusting politicians.
Victoria Oh, 38, described Hanson as "racist" and said cutting migration would be "a big loss to the Australian economy," particularly for international students and workers. She disagreed with Hanson's claim that childcare workers are overpaid, saying "the work is crazy, so I believe that they deserve as much as they can get."
Mixed views on One Nation's appeal
Rochelle Bennett, 30, described voting as "trying to pick the better of two evils" and called politicians "all liars." She supported a "little bit of a crackdown on immigration" but found some of Hanson's statements "crazy," such as claiming Indigenous status due to being born in Australia. On Hanson's monoculture policy, Bennett said Australia "has always been multicultural" and that making it one culture "just isn't doable."
Tara Coles, 42, said One Nation "make a lot of sense," praising Hanson for being "honest" and "putting the average Australian first." She linked migration levels to housing scarcity, noting people "borderline homeless now" despite working hard. "I'm just kind of sick of the bullshit and I want to give someone else a go, because how worse can it get?"
Criticism and cautious support
Katrina, 72, who requested her last name not be used, said she thought Hanson was "racist" and "not coming from a place that she makes herself out to." She said she would never vote for the party, adding, "I think we'd be going backwards if we elected her."
Sam Mukherjee, 47, understood One Nation as "giving a good fight to Labor" but noted a lack of fiscal detail in their policies. He was equivocal about the monoculture claim, saying he didn't think Hanson meant to be non-inclusive. On migration, he said it must be "planned" with infrastructure and housing in place. When asked if he would vote for One Nation, he replied, "If they have come up with a good plan, then why not?"
The responses reflect a divided electorate in Pakenham, where cost-of-living pressures and distrust in major parties are driving some voters toward One Nation, while others remain critical of the party's policies and rhetoric.
