A visit to Coober Pedy this week by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Cory Bernardi has reinforced a growing sentiment across regional and remote Australia that many communities are ready for change.

The trip by Pauline and Cory follows on from One Nation’s Candidate for Stuart Brandon Turton’s visit to Coober Pedy a few weeks ago. Brandon was so taken with the uniqueness of the Outback Town and the people that he wanted to revisit and show Pauline and Cory around town himself. Due to weather complications, Brandon was unable to make the trip this time.

Arriving at Coober Pedy by plane on Tuesday morning, Pauline and Cory were met by the Coober Pedy Community Alliance Group, and spent the day meeting with locals at Australia’s Opal Capital, firstly underground in the town’s iconic Old Timer’s Mine with owner operator Nicko Farantouris, where the One Nation team were treated to a journey back into time when the original occupants of the mine lived on-site, deep inside the ground. 

Nicko related the following:
“As we moved through the OTM, Cory was keen to hear about how our town ticks.  It was sad to relate some of the problems that are holding us back like the constant, repetitious crime and the effect it has on the feelings of safety for tourists; the overkill of lengthy Administration that has served no real purpose, given the lack of progress in nearly 8 years coupled with a complete lack of understanding in how an outback town is supposed to survive and thrive.”

“Pauline was quite curious about the history of the town, particularly our core industry, Opal Mining, and how the process works, e.g., mining, cutting and setting into jewellery.  They were able to see all of the machinery that we have used over time to bring Australia’s beautiful Opal Gem to the world stage, and after various natural episodes of Boom-Bust, how the town was growing up again, always with fresh, new blood and young families committed to the industry.”

“We were able to discuss some of the challenges that affect remote towns such as ours, and emphasise how important it is to be supported while we maintain independence in order to self-sustain.   Remote area communities are a different breed.  We are not ‘hands-out’.  That does not work up here.”


After the Old Timer’s Mine the One Nation guests attended an outdoor meeting at the Rotunda at the centre of town in Hutchison Street, where Pauline and Cory addressed a large crowd of residents, before making their way around for an introduction and lots of photos with the excited locals. Everyone was extremely pleased to be considered for a visit, particularly as the weather for travelling had been quite unsuitable for around a week.

The One Nation visit provided an opportunity to hear firsthand the concerns of residents who say they have long felt overlooked by decision-makers in distant Adelaide, describing the ordeal of Administration as being hand-balled from one inexperienced public servant to the next, with no positive results achieved, but rather a depletion of assets and town income. 

This week, residents at the Opal Capital were alarmed to find that the South Australian Electoral Commission had removed their ability to vote on the official voting day, without clear and timely communications or a valid reason.  Due to the mining amnesty summer period that concluded on 15/3/2026, many of the miners are only just returning to Coober Pedy now in time for the voting date, completely unaware that their voting opportunity had been removed without notice. Local residents who reliably work at the Polling Places, said they were usually contacted a good month before a Polling event, but this year they had not been contacted at all.

Discussions throughout the day centred on escalating despair and frustrations with the failure of those in control at Coober Pedy to maintain essential services during administration, as well as what many described as a lack of understanding about the realities of living and thriving in remote communities. Locals spoke openly about the need for greater self-sufficiency and more responsive, locally informed solutions to long-standing challenges. 

Health services or the lack thereof raised its head several times, where residents felt that highly paid locums simply acted as a referral service, sending sick people on lengthy trips to faraway towns for treatment, without considering that there may be a way to utilise or share specialists already visiting the town at nearby locations.

Given the disturbing misinformation generated by opposing political parties, it was pleasing to see the local Aboriginal people seek out Pauline Hanson to discuss potential solutions to several pressing issues having a constant impact on the town and many families.

Lunch at Coober Pedy’s Outback Bar & Grill provided another forum for discussion in a relaxed atmosphere.  Thank you to hosts Yanni, Chris and Alex Pantelis for their excellent service and company at lunch.

We were joined at lunch by President of the Coober Pedy Miner’s Association Matt Graham who had been very keen to meet the One Nation team and hear about their policies first hand. Matt and Pauline enjoyed some lively conversation at many levels, with Matt commenting later, “ I really enjoyed meeting Pauline and admire that she kept her promise to visit us up here and listen to our needs, even though they had to reschedule a few times and work around a rather tricky weather system. It is disappointing to hear the poor comments from the opposition when in reality Pauline is a true Australian and cares deeply for our country.”

The visit highlighted a consistent message emerging not just in Coober Pedy, but across the regions, where people are seeking stronger, more genuine representation, practical action, and regular attendance by those with paid responsibilities. 

In general, a renewed commitment is needed across South Australia.  Just reading about community issues on social media and reaching ‘whiteboard’ conclusions is not the same as being there and getting involved in real-time solutions that suit the situation, the location and the long-term culture of diehard Aussies. Coober Pedy is indeed made up of many nations, and it has always rolled forward as a cohesive ‘one nation’. All nationalities would attest to the successful integration and mutual respect that exists among many cultures that have helped to build Coober Pedy over it’s Century of existence.