{
  "id": 13503454,
  "title": "A banner along the Pacific Highway speaks volumes about why some communities are turning to One Nation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/a-banner-along-the-pacific-highway-speaks-volumes-about-why-some",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T19:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/11/cowper-centrelink-welfare-inequality-australians-turning-to-one-nation-ntwnfb"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pacific Highway, stretching north from Sydney, is dotted with towns that may soon be influenced by One Nation. This political party has gained attention through roadside signs that criticize climate change and recently opposed the voice to parliament referendum. However, in recent times, these signs have shifted to express strong support for One Nation. One such example is a tribute to Ben Roberts-Smith, the party's founder, located near Port Macquarie. This installation features an Australian flag and a banner that reads \"Centrelink is evil.\" The electorate of Cowper, which includes Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, is considered one of the least resilient communities in Australia, according to a Redbridge survey. This frustration is rooted in high unemployment, poverty, and inadequate education. People in this region often struggle with Centrelink, facing numerous complex forms, long phone calls to call centers, and the fear that their applications may be rejected due to automated systems. While Australia generally provides better income support than many other countries, it is far from perfect. Nearly 4 million Australians, including 757,000 children, live in poverty, facing inadequate public support and insecure living conditions. The frustration with Centrelink and the government's seemingly impersonal approach contributes to the rise of One Nation. This political party, which promises to reduce government spending, fails to address the real issues faced by the most vulnerable citizens. The complexity of the Australian welfare system and politicians' focus on distribution rather than accessibility exacerbate the problem. Despite promises to improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals, One Nation's policies have not delivered on their promises. The issue goes beyond labeling One Nation as racist and inept; it highlights the frustration of people who feel left behind and call for genuine solutions to address their suffering.",
  "summary": "‘Centrelink is evil’ isn’t a call to slash welfare payments – it’s a sign people are frustrated about the ability to access government support The drive north from Sydney along the Pacific Highway is lined with towns that are potentially prey for One Nation. For years, handmade roadside signs disputed climate change and more recently objected to the voice to parliament referendum. Continue…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}