# One Nation's digital playbook and Australia's climate stand

> As One Nation bypasses traditional media to reach voters, Australia faces criticism over its climate conference hosting while backing fossil fuels.
- Title: One Nation's digital playbook and Australia's climate stand
- Summary: As One Nation bypasses traditional media to reach voters, Australia faces criticism over its climate conference hosting while backing fossil fuels. One…
- Keywords: one nation, pauline hanson, australia, digital media, anti-immigration, cop31, fossil fuels, climate conference, populism, news, politics, One
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/05/morning-mail-monday-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-04T19:49:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: one nation, pauline hanson, australia, digital media, anti-immigration, cop31, fossil fuels, climate conference, populism, news, politics
## One Nation's digital edge
One Nation was Australia's first political party with a website and is recognised as having some of the most effective online games in the business today.
## Bypassing traditional media
The party specialises in shareable anti-immigration messaging and bypasses traditional media to reach voters directly, harvesting fear and grievance for political power.
## Hanson's cyber politics
Pauline Hanson's supporters say she tells it like it is. Sarah Martin traces Hanson's beginnings as Australia's first cyber politician to her leading role in the rightwing nativist movement.

> She tells it like it is
## One Nation's 1998 breakthrough
David Oldfield co-founded One Nation with Pauline Hanson and the late David Ettridge. In its first campaign at the 1998 Queensland election, the party won eleven seats.
## Early collapse and return
Within months of the 1998 election, disillusioned MPs fell out with party leadership and the experiment began to fall apart. Those who lived through it now see history repeating itself.
## One Nation on steroids
Those who experienced One Nation's most successful election now see the party's current rise as different. They describe the current situation as one Nation on steroids.

> it's One Nation on steroids
## Dalby's datacentre fears
Residents of the rural Queensland town of Dalby face a planned thirty one billion dollar datacentre to power AI technology. State premier David Crisafulli sees it as an opportunity.
## Scepticism over AI expansion
Denver Kanowski believes the datacentre to be built to power Anthropic's Claude will go beyond harming the environment by disconnecting people from things that really matter.
## Australia hosts climate talks
Australia is co-hosting a major UN climate conference next month. The hosts, Turkey and Australia, are facing stiff criticism over their position on fossil fuels.
## Coal supply chain conflict
Turkey and Australia are partners in a coal supply chain while hosting the next major UN climate conference. They are doing little to back nations wanting to get off fossil fuels.
## Roosters claim NRL title
Sydney Roosters blow away Brisbane Broncos to claim the NRL grand final. The Roosters' NRL and NRLW teams celebrate their grand final wins together at Accor Stadium.
## Knights' grand final loss
Newcastle Knights' NRL grand final loss against Sydney Roosters hurts so much, says standout Kalyn Ponga. The gallant Knights fell short in the championship match.

> hurts so much
## Key takeaway

One Nation uses digital channels to spread anti-immigration messaging directly to voters, while Australia co-hosts a UN climate conference despite criticism over its fossil fuel partnerships.