Australia’s major political parties have been built around policy platforms designed to appeal to particular cohorts (such as the working class).   Populist parties such as One Nation tend not to stem from a policy platform – rather, they acknowledge voters’ grievances, blame others, but offer few policy solutions to address those grievances.   While populist parties are not new, how do we explain the recent surge in popularity of One Nation?   What do voters who are attracted to populist parties really want, where do their hearts lie, and what policies do they see as the solution?   Join us for this seminar to hear hot-off-the-press survey findings and expert opinion.

Time:     6.00pm – 8.30pm,  Registration opens 5.30pm

Venue:  Queensland Parliament House,

Entry via Parliamentary Annexe, Alice Street, Brisbane.

Photo ID required.

RSVP:     horganvm@gmail.com by Thursday, 20/8/26 for catering purposes

Speakers:

Bruce Hawker, Special Counsel, Fitzpatrick & Co Advisory.  Since 1982 Bruce has worked as a strategist on more than 40 election campaigns in Australia and overseas.  He has advised Prime Ministers, Premiers and Opposition Leaders.  In 1998 he worked with Peter Beattie Labor’s successful Queensland election campaign that also saw the rise to prominence of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.

John Utting, Managing Director, Utting Research. John is one of Australia’s most experienced pollsters with over 30 years advising Prime Ministers, Premiers and blue-chip CEOs plus wide-ranging work across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Fiji.  He brings deep insights and critical high-level understanding to complex strategic challenges.

Associate Professor Paul Williams, Griffith University. With over 35 years of experience as an academic, Paul has a well-earned national and international reputation as a political analyst of political leadership and voter behaviour.  As a political scientist, his research has resulted in a prolific publication record in peer-reviewed scholarly publications, non-refereed articles, and newspaper articles on national and international politics and public policy.