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One Nation surge in SA election prompts Pauline Hanson to target Farrer by-election and Victorian poll

Pauline Hanson has declared One Nation’s South Australian election surge ‘just the start’, pointing to expanding support beyond the major parties.

Madeline Cove
The Nightly
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson with supporters at the One Nation South Australian election night event at the Kent Town Hotel, SA.
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson with supporters at the One Nation South Australian election night event at the Kent Town Hotel, SA. Credit: News Corp Australia

Pauline Hanson has declared One Nation’s strong result in the South Australian election is “just the start”, signalling the party will seek to build momentum ahead of upcoming contests, including the Farrer by-election and the Victorian state election.

The One Nation leader pointed to growing support for the party as evidence of a wider shift in voter sentiment, suggesting frustration with the major parties is translating into increased backing for minor party alternatives.

“This is the start of it, and I’m going to go after Farrer and we’re going to look at the state Victorian elections people are crying out for One Nation down there so there is a movement that is happening,” she said.

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“It’s not just a protest vote … you have no idea what the hell has happened in this country, there is a movement and there is an undercurrent and it is people saying we’ve had a gutful, we want our country back.”

“I think in a lot of ways I feel vindicated for my being in this game for 30 years to give people back their voice. I feel different, I don’t know what it is, I’m excited but I’m sort of holding my cards close to my chest in a lot of ways because I’ve been in this position before and it all falls apart because of preferences and the rest of it.”

Senator Hanson said the party’s direction in South Australia would be led locally, placing responsibility in the hands of Cory Bernardi as One Nation seeks to expand its presence in the state.

“I don’t lead in South Australia,” Senator Hanson has said about how the One Nation party will interact federally and at a revived state level in SA.

“Cory (Bernardi) gets the call,” Senator Hanson added when issues arise in SA.

Former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is set to return to politics after securing an upper house seat in South Australia, positioning One Nation to expand its presence in the state parliament as counting continues.

Speaking to supporters on Saturday night, Mr Bernardi was greeted with chants of “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!” as he pledged to carry what he described as an “orange wave” into parliament.

“I’ve never loved that chant more,” he said.

Addressing the same gathering, Senator Hanson signalled the party intended to exert influence in the new parliament following its strong showing at the election.

“Guess what mate, I’m leaving you some land mines as One Nation MPs in the South Australian parliament, so don’t step on them else they’ll explode.”

She also thanked volunteers and supporters, saying the party would work to represent voters and hold governments accountable.

“It’s not about Pauline Hanson, it’s about the message that we are trying to get out for South Australia to get a voice on the floor of parliament and hold the government to account,” she said.

“Thank you very much to the voters out there for giving One Nation your vote … I know it won’t be wasted because we are going to fight hard for you.”

The party’s performance is expected to shape the broader political conversation, as minor party support continues to challenge the dominance of Labor and the Liberals.

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