To confuse One Nation with its supporters would be a fatal political mistake for both the federal government and the opposition.Many of the supporters of One Nation are hardworking, decent Australians who are disillusioned with the major political parties and are worried about the uncertainties facing their families’ financial future, the high cost of living and the impact of AI on their jobs. At the core of their concerns is a deep-seated worry that Australia is heading in the wrong direction and they are not being listened to or included in the nation’s journey.The One Nation political party, on the other hand, is running a very successful scare campaign blaming our current immigration policies for forcing up house prices, the cost of electricity and any other ill that comes their way.One Nation until now has been a party of complaint – and therein lies its weakness.The party’s recent high electoral support in the polls is largely due to the poor performance of the major political parties in addressing the issues affecting the electorate. It was the same in 1998 in Queensland when One Nation stormed on to the political stage by winning seats from both the ALP and the Coalition with 23% of the primary vote.In office, Queensland Labor subsequently turned back the One Nation tide by addressing the concerns of its voters.This meant meeting with as many of them as possible face-to-face at community cabinet meetings across Queensland and listening to them.Our subsequent policy focus and initiatives dealt with their concerns. It worked in Queensland, the original home of One Nation, and that strategy can work federally.The answer in dealing with the One National party is therefore clear. The federal government must develop solutions that tackle the daily challenges facing One Nation voters and implement policies that make a difference to their lives. It also means treating One Nation voters with respect and implementing policies which: