# The Populist: Social Contract

> Pauline Hanson's One Nation party uses anti-immigration messaging to bypass traditional media.
- Title: The Populist: Social Contract · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: Pauline Hanson's One Nation party uses anti-immigration messaging to bypass traditional media. Pauline Hanson's One Nation party gained early success with…
- Keywords: one nation, australian politics, pauline hanson, populist right, anti immigration, social contract, news, politics, Populist, Social, Contract, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/05/the-populist-the-social-contract-episode-4-podcast-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-04T14:00:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: one nation, australian politics, pauline hanson, populist right, anti immigration, social contract, news, politics
## One Nation's early success
One Nation was the first Australian political party with a website, and its online game today is recognised as some of the most effective in the business.
## Anti-immigration messaging
The party specialises in shareable anti-immigration messaging, and in bypassing traditional media to reach voters directly.
## Pauline Hanson's supporters
‘She tells it like it is,’ Pauline Hanson’s supporters say.

> She tells it like it is
## Populist tactics
But her tactics come straight from the populist right playbook: harvesting fear and grievance for political power.
## Hanson's journey
In the final episode of The Populist, Sarah Martin traces Hanson’s journey from her beginnings as Australia’s first ‘cyber politician’ to her leading role in the rightwing nativist movement that is sweeping the globe.
## 1998 Queensland collapse
One Nation celebrated stunning success in Queensland in 1998, then it all fell apart.
## Key takeaway

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party gained early success with shareable anti-immigration messages but faced collapse after 1998 Queensland election.