One Nation has never held government, nor has it ever been in opposition. Yet it’s managed to influence public policy in Australia for three decades.

From borders to immigration, Indigenous affairs to multiculturalism, it’s moved the needle on each of these issues. How does a fringe party come to wield so much influence?

In episode 4 of our podcast, The Making of One Nation, public policy expert Josh Sunman says it’s because they’re able to shift the national conversation.

Once the major parties get a sense that One Nation’s really simplistic messaging is biting through they then feel a need to bring back those voters who they’re worried about losing to One Nation. So they offer a kind of sanitised version of what One Nation’s policy position is, even though the substance is largely the same.

Once the major parties get a sense that One Nation’s really simplistic messaging is........

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