Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the conservative-leaning One Nation is benefiting from the economic anxiety Australians in response to the party’s ongoing surge in the polls.
One Nation has topped several recent surveys, including a June 2 Roy Morgan poll showing the party was the most popular in the country ahead of Labor and the Coalition.
Chalmers conceded the public was under economic pressure, which he claimed was a catalyst for One Nation’s support.
“Well, the pace of change in our economy and in our society is accelerating, and the global pressures are intensifying, and I think people have got legitimate concerns about where they fit in that story of churn and change,” he told ABC on June 11.
“And once you recognise that, you’ve really got a binary choice, and it represents the difference in politics right now.”
Chalmers also accused Labor’s opponents of blocking its signature overhaul of the tax and wealth creation vehicles like negative gearing, capital gains tax, and trusts.
“They see this challenge, which is the intersection of the housing market and the tax system, which is locking young Australians out of their first home for too long, for some people forever, they are defending, clinging to that broken status quo.”
The treasurer also accused the party of taking instruction from mining magnate Gina Rinehart, who gifted leader Pauline Hanson a private plane.
“One Nation votes the way that Gina Rinehart tells them to do rather than the way that working Australians need them to do,” he said.
“Here’s the independent audit that’s just been completed that proves the site and money is ridgy didge.
“Now, will the PM reveal how much his campaign has raised?”
