Analysis by Jim O’Toole, Townsville Bureau
The latest Sky News polls for One Nation have placed the party in an unassailable position to take government if an election were held now.
Pauline Hanson is the preferred Prime Minister by at least four points however we are two years away from a federal election and anything could happen between now and then. Cairns News believes the Liberal and Labor parties will join forces by exchanging preferences at the election to prevent the break-up of their precious, indomitable two-party circus.
Nonetheless the intellectual pygmies of Labor are planning to reinstate the full fuel excise of 52 cents a litre at the end of June, which will hand One Nation even more support. Hanson has pushed for the entire levy to be removed which would help stimulate industries across the board.
By sending diesel back up to $2.50 a litre struggling transport companies on which the food chain depends will simply pass on the extra costs sending the affordability of basic foodstuffs soaring yet again. Australia runs on diesel.
The tourist industry in Queensland has been hit hard by high fuel costs now that the season is in full swing, as tourist operators report big declines in numbers of domestic visitors to the barrier reef, western areas of the state and Cape York Peninsula which traditionally see large numbers of southern visitors between June and October.
Business bankruptcies are at an all time high.
2024–25 Full Year: 14,722 companies entered external administration, representing a 33.2% year-on-year increase.
2025–26 Financial Year: Insolvency activity began to level off compared to prior spikes. Between July 2025 and March 2026, approximately 9,600 companies entered administration—roughly mirroring the rates seen during the same period in 2024–25.
There is no chance of Labor’s popularity significantly increasing between now and the election due in 2028. But the numbers taken from the LNP by One Nation could fluctuate. Two years is a long time in politics.
Minor parties left out in the cold
Minor parties will be hard pressed to make any inroads into One Nation’s roller coaster polling which has captivated much of the legacy media other than the ABC which still believes Albanese and Labor are their Messiahs.
Former Queensland Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick with his people First Party and the elder of the Australian parliament Bob Katter are singularly popular among conservative voters but confined to Queensland and will not not make a dent in Hanson’s armour.
Talk of their amalgamation with One Nation now is a distant memory while Rennick believes Hanson doesn’t need his support and she has telegraphed plans to target Katter’s vast northern seat of Kennedy, ultimately a futile move.
Hanson should have accepted Rennick who is widely appreciated for his economic acumen and his attacks on the medical mafia and bureaucracy during the Covid plandemic in a similar manner to her effective foot soldier Senator Malcolm Roberts.
Roberts, Rennick and Antic were the most formidable senators in decades, operating in the last Australian parliament.
Currently there is nobody among One Nation ranks with a comprehensive economic plan suitable to Make Australia Great Again. Gerard Rennick has all the qualifications and experience to move into the Treasurer’s position tomorrow and pull the country out of LibLab’s economic mire.
Bob Katter’s wide experience as the longest serving member of Australian parliament places him as an invaluable asset across almost every portfolio particularly primary industries, mining and Aboriginal affairs.
Unfortunately Pauline has always had a blind spot for overt talent.