ABC Host’s One Nation Comments Spark Backlash After By-Election Coverage

Comments made by Patricia Karvelas during live by-election coverage have sparked criticism online, with some accusing the national broadcaster host of attempting to delegitimise voters supporting One Nation.

During the broadcast, Karvelas said it would be “a big and dangerous mistake to legitimize One Nation and to embolden One Nation,” while discussing preference flows involving senior Liberal figure Angus Taylor.

She went on to claim that if One Nation secured its first Lower House seat, it could create what she described as a “permission structure” for voters in other electorates.

“That begins the process of legitimizing them,” Karvelas said during the coverage.

“In other electorates where they may run, voters thinking, well, it’s happened before, it’s normal. Now you start normalizing something.”

The remarks quickly drew backlash from critics who argued the comments were inappropriate for a publicly funded broadcaster and undermined democratic principles by suggesting voters should not “normalize” support for a legally registered political party.

Supporters of One Nation defended the party’s right to compete electorally, arguing that voters — not media commentators — should determine which political movements gain legitimacy at the ballot box.

Others defended Karvelas’ comments as political analysis rather than advocacy, saying journalists regularly discuss the potential impact and mainstreaming of political parties during election coverage.

The controversy comes amid growing debate over media impartiality, political preferences, and the influence of minor parties in Australian politics following recent by-election results.