Victoria Election: Anti-Hanson Strategy Avoids Character Attacks 2026

As the Victorian election approaches in November, progressive campaigners and unionists are being advised to avoid personal attacks on Pauline Hanson and not to call her a racist. This strategic shift aims to engage One Nation supporters more respectfully and address their economic concerns, rather than alienating them further.

Why the Change in Strategy?

The message from strategists is blunt: do not, however tempting, personally attack Pauline Hanson or call her a racist. This request has been made to progressive campaigners and unionists who have been asked to start one-on-one conversations with One Nation supporters. It reflects a strategic rethink in response to One Nation's sustained surge in public support and recent wins in state and federal byelections and in South Australia.

Separate training sessions run by the Trades Hall Council and GetUp have warned members that they may be inadvertently pushing people to One Nation by not respectfully engaging with their legitimate economic concerns. A GetUp strategist told hundreds of members on a Thursday night Zoom call: “As best as you can, I know it’s hard, don’t make it personal. Going after Pauline Hanson personally and calling her a racist, or going after her character, although very tempting, just confirms what people already believe: that she is an outsider and the establishment is attacking her.”

The Impact of Personal Attacks

This is a change of approach for GetUp, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads personally attacking Hanson and her deputy leader, Barnaby Joyce, during the Farrer byelection. The ads, which linked the pair to Donald Trump, were unsuccessful in reducing support for One Nation. Instead, they may have reinforced the perception that Hanson is an outsider being targeted by the establishment.

Data from recent elections shows that personal attacks often backfire. For example, in the Farrer byelection, despite the negative ads, One Nation's vote increased. Similarly, in South Australia, One Nation gained seats, indicating that voters are responding to the party's message rather than being deterred by character attacks.

Key Takeaways for Campaigners

• Avoid personal attacks on Pauline Hanson and One Nation candidates.
• Engage respectfully with voters' economic concerns to prevent pushback.
• Focus on policy differences rather than character assassination.
• Build trust through one-on-one conversations to change minds.

FAQ

As the Victorian election nears, the success of this new approach will be closely watched. If it proves effective, it could signal a broader shift in how progressive groups counter right-wing populist parties across Australia.

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of shorts men, balls seniors, irons seniors, driver beginners, and rangefinder money. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of shoes walking, hybrid clubs, clubs beginners, clubs seniors, and shirts men. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.