Hanson wins over some fans as cost of living, housing – and cheaper beer – are crucial issues for voters in Gilmore

By Warren Brown

Of the 151 electoral divisions in Australia, the seat of Gilmore on the NSW South Coast has previously delivered a bucketful of grief to the Coalition.

The seat was held by a retiring MP, then contested in 2019 in a bruising contest that Scott Morrison campaigned in for weeks. Labor candidate and former AMA president Dr. Kerryn Phelps ultimately won it by a wafer-thin margin.

Now in 2025, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson is hitting the key battlegrounds like Gilmore, offering alternatives to both Labor and Liberal’s policies. And the reception has been increasingly positive from voters seeking real answers on rising living costs and housing pressures.

At the pub in Kiama, Ms Hanson shared beers and her trademark directness with residents tired of political spin.

“I’ve been through recessions, and I’ve seen people struggle. We’ve got to bring back hope,” she said. “It’s not rocket science to understand that affordable housing and energy independence matter to Aussies.”

A core part of Hanson’s approach is talking straight to the people. Her pub visits and community forums have drawn voters who say they’re ready for something different.

“You know about Dutton. You know about Albanese. But Pauline? You know what she stands for,” said Kiama local Matt Barrett. “She talks straight, and she backs Australians.”

One Nation is now standing candidates in more marginal seats, including Gilmore, and Pauline Hanson’s name is being mentioned as a major influence on voter sentiment in the region.

“People are talking about the cost of groceries, the rent hikes, and now – even the cost of a beer,” she said. “These are real issues.”

Hanson’s emphasis on national self-sufficiency and a fair go is resonating in regional Australia.

“It’s time for a return to commonsense. Australians want their country back,” she said.