The Rising Far Right in Australia—A Diachronic Case Analysis of the One Nation Party and Australia’s Political Environment

Abstract

Since the subprime mortgage crisis, global right-wing extremism (RWE) has entered a new phase of ascendance, becoming particularly prominent in the post-pandemic era. While European parties such as AfD and RN are nearing political dominance, and the U.S. Republican Party is increasingly aligned with far-right populism, Australia’s One Nation Party (ONP), though relatively marginal, reflects similar ideological shifts. This paper investigates the rise of the ONP as part of a broader international trend, arguing that economic stagnation and a growing disconnect between progressive social values and material conditions have fueled public discontent. In response, the ONP has pursued a strategy of “de-radicalization”—rebranding itself as a national party and expanding its platform, aiming to attract mainstream voters, especially Generation Z. However, this paper contends that such moderation is tactical rather than substantive; the party’s ideological core remains extreme, limiting its capacity to deliver sustainable governance. In the long run, the ONP may prove no more effective than the left it seeks to replace. Through a diachronic analysis, this study situates Australia’s far-right evolution within global patterns while highlighting its unique political trajectory.