Rich Donors Flip Their Support to Australia’s Populist Party

Sydney stockbroker Angus Aitken, who once pledged a quarter‑million dollars to the Liberal Party, has now turned his back on that party and given over a million dollars to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, a move that signals a broader shift among Australia’s wealthiest voters. Aitken said he grew tired of the Liberal Party’s internal fights and sluggish polling, and he sees One Nation as a vehicle to cut red tape and boost business freedom. He even met former U. S. President Donald Trump at a fundraiser, showing how the party is looking to emulate Trump’s hard‑line immigration and deregulation agenda. The change isn’t limited to Aitken. Mining tycoon Gina Rinehart, who once flew Liberal leaders on her private jet, has become a major supporter of One Nation. Rinehart recently donated a Cirrus G7 plane worth about 1. 5 million Australian dollars, and two of her company’s employees each gave the party half a million dollars—far more than any previous individual contribution. Rinehart also hosts expensive dinners and private jet trips for One Nation leaders, turning her influence into a powerful fundraising engine.

Political analysts say this shift is driven by several factors: frequent changes in Liberal leadership, disagreements over energy policy and hate‑speech laws within the coalition, and a general decline in trust for mainstream parties. Similar patterns are seen overseas, where wealthy donors in the U. K. and France increasingly back populist movements as traditional centre‑right parties fracture. One Nation’s fortunes are rising. Opinion polls suggest the party could win its first seat in the House of Representatives at an upcoming by‑election, a significant milestone given its history of only holding four Senate seats. While it is still unlikely that the party will win enough lower‑house seats to form a government in 2028, it could double its Senate presence and gain more influence over legislation. The Liberal Party’s donors remain largely tied to the major parties, but One Nation’s appeal to wealthy private‑sector figures is growing. Rinehart’s support has helped the party raise record sums, and her high‑profile connections to U. S. politics bring additional attention and potential donors. The trend illustrates a broader realignment in Australian politics, where powerful individuals are increasingly willing to back outsider parties that promise swift change and less bureaucracy. Whether this will translate into lasting electoral success remains to be seen, but the current trajectory shows a significant shift in the political landscape.

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