Watch Marc Fennell Get To Know One Nation Supporters In North Queensland

It can be very tempting to dismiss One Nation supporters as racist and xenophobic. And yet, to whatever degree the label may or may not be genuinely deserved, the fact remains that they are a legitimate political force. For that reason, it can be important to try and understand them — who they are, what they want, and what makes them think Pauline Hanson can give it to them.

On last night’s episode of The Feed, Marc Fennell attempted to do just that. Fennell visited Mackay in rural Queensland where he interviewed a number of Australians thinking about giving One Nation their vote. Unsurprisingly, Islam and immigration were two of the primary talking points; but people also shared their concerns about job security and foreign investment, as well as expressing their growing frustration with both major political parties.

“When was the last politician that can actually, honestly say he’s lived like an Australian?” one man asks. “Going out and actually working for a bloody living? Knowing how hard it is to actually put food on the table?”

Of course the same man also said that “our culture is being taken away from us [by an] influx of refugees” and “the amount of Muslims we’re taking in” before admittedly that he had never actually spoken to a Muslim in Mackay.

You can watch the whole segment below.

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Marc Fennell is co-curating our inaugural Video Junkee festival in July, a new annual event for lovers and creators of online video. Video Junkee is on July 28 & 29 at Carriageworks in Sydney, featuring keynotes, masterclasses, screenings, interviews and more. Tickets are on sale now.