Hanson’s speech was ‘popcorn TV’. Here’s what nine.com.au readers made of it

Exclusive: Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club appearance certainly got people talking, and was even interrupted by a protest banner.

Nine national affairs editor Andrew Probyn described her address as “popcorn TV” - and nine.com.au readers have now had their say in an exclusive survey.

An exclusive poll of more than 1200 readers found that more than half felt Hanson made a good impression with her first speech to the National Press Club.

“All was good except for the monocultural comments, even though I understand what she is trying to do,” one told nine.com.au.

One in three said the One Nation leader made a poor impression, and 12 per cent were on the fence.

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“I think her bogan style is appealing to the masses,” another nine.com.au reader said.

“Her singing from the Trump handbook should be [cause for] alarm, but the lack of credible alternatives appears to override common sense.”

Hanson’s speech left 32 per cent of nine.com.au readers with a more positive outlook on her party.

Just over 10 per cent said they had a more negative outlook on One Nation, and nearly 60 per cent said their opinion of the controversial party hadn’t changed.

“Pauline had a chance and she blew it,” one reader said.

“An opportunity to distinguish One Nation from the rest [was] lost to a rambling about everything everybody else was doing wrong, but advancing nothing of substance, nothing that was costed or proven as an alternative.”

Hanson’s National Press Club appearance came just days after another nine.com.au survey revealed just 41 per cent of readers feel she’d make a good prime minister.

Nearly 45 per cent said she wasn’t cut out for the top job and 15 per cent were undecided.

Even now, many Aussies are sceptical that One Nation’s recent surge in popularity will have a major impact when the country goes to the polls for the next federal election.

“Some people are big fans and will blindly follow her, while others are blatant critics and will hate on anything she says,” one reader said.

“I’m being open-minded and will save my opinions closer to an actual election.”

The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the Nine audience on Idea Xchange, which is an online community of our readers and viewers. Learn more and sign up here.