More popular than Barnaby Joyce? This Australian has won over One Nation voters
SBS News
β’Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:35:28 +0000
π° What Happened
A survey of more than 1,000 One Nation voters by Utting Research found former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith is the party base's second-most popular political figure, behind only Pauline Hanson, with a 69% popularity rating. That outranks Barnaby Joyce (62%), Donald Trump (42%) and Liberal leader Angus Taylor (32%). Eighty percent of his supporters were aged 65 and above, and 77% were ex-Liberal voters.
π The Backstory
Roberts-Smith, a decorated former soldier who fought and lost a high-profile defamation case over war-crimes allegations, is not a One Nation candidate but the party has embraced him as a figurehead. Utting Research identified his hero status and his public battle with establishment institutions as key reasons for his popularity among One Nation voters, who rank immigration and cost of living as their top issues.
π― Why It Matters
The numbers show One Nation consolidating a disaffected, former-coalition constituency, which could siphon votes from the Liberals in the next federal election. The survey also signals the pull of a figure associated with war-crimes allegations among a major part's most engaged base.
A survey of more than 1,000 One Nation voters by Utting Research found former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith is the party base's second-most popular political figure, behind only Pauline Hanson, with a 69% popularity rating. That outranks Barnaby Joyce (62%), Donald Trump (42%) and Liberal leader Angus Taylor (32%). Eighty percent of his supporters were aged 65 and above, and 77% were ex-Liberal voters.
Roberts-Smith, a decorated former soldier who fought and lost a high-profile defamation case over war-crimes allegations, is not a One Nation candidate but the party has embraced him as a figurehead. Utting Research identified his hero status and his public battle with establishment institutions as key reasons for his popularity among One Nation voters, who rank immigration and cost of living as their top issues.
The numbers show One Nation consolidating a disaffected, former-coalition constituency, which could siphon votes from the Liberals in the next federal election. The survey also signals the pull of a figure associated with war-crimes allegations among a major part's most engaged base.