Australia's far right One Nation party, led by longtime anti immigration politician Pauline Hanson, has surged to record support in opinion polls following the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 people. The attack, carried out by two gunmen said by police to have been inspired by the Islamic State, intensified public debate over immigration and national security, helping push the party to backing from nearly a quarter of voters.

Rising housing costs and broader cost of living pressures had already been fueling dissatisfaction with major parties. After the attack, some voters who once viewed Hanson as extreme said they now see her warnings about what she calls mass migration as prescient. New supporters include former backers of both conservative and labor parties who cite concerns about housing shortages, integration, and security.

Australia has long relied on immigration to sustain its economy, and nearly a third of its population was born overseas. However, record post pandemic arrivals and a deepening housing crisis have shifted public sentiment, with many calling for lower migration levels. Analysts say One Nation's rise is reshaping the political debate and putting pressure on mainstream parties, though converting polling gains into lasting electoral power remains uncertain ahead of the next federal election.