One Nation announces Victorian election candidates and leadership ahead of November poll

Consensus Summary

One Nation formally launched its Victorian election campaign on August 5, 2026, unveiling eight upper house candidates and naming Warren Pickering as the party’s leader and candidate for the lower house seat of Pakenham. The announcement marks the party’s largest-ever state campaign ahead of the November election, with Pickering vowing to ‘put the major parties on notice’ and contest every seat. Among the candidates are Colleen Harkin, a former Liberal defector, and Mark Nicholson, co-creator of Hanson’s anti-woke animated series *Please Explain*. The party also confirmed it will run candidates in every lower house seat, though full details remain pending.

The campaign follows One Nation’s rapid rise in Victorian polling, with support now estimated between 19% and 30%, according to multiple sources. The party’s surge has prompted concerns among Labor, with new Premier Ben Carroll warning that Victoria could see Australia’s first Liberal-One Nation government. One Nation’s strategy contrasts with traditional coalitions, as Pickering explicitly ruled out sharing power with the Liberals, insisting the party can ‘win in its own right.’ The timing of the announcement coincides with internal party shifts, including the promotion of James Ashby to national director and the hiring of Chris Taylor, a former banking association policy chief, as Hanson’s new chief of staff.

Pickering’s selection as leader has drawn scrutiny due to his history of promoting conspiracy theories, including claims about a ‘globalist cabal’ controlling government policy and the debunked ‘15-minute city’ urban planning conspiracy. Experts cited by the ABC and *The Age* warn that such rhetoric risks amplifying misinformation, particularly in a state still recovering from pandemic-era restrictions. Pickering’s public statements, such as his May 2024 rally against digital IDs—where he suggested the World Economic Forum was orchestrating the plan—reflect his alignment with anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination movements. Despite this, the party frames its campaign as a response to voter frustrations over crime, corruption, and immigration, with Hanson emphasizing a focus on ‘restoring Victoria’ and dismantling Labor’s policies, including treaty legislation.

The media’s access to One Nation’s press conference became a point of contention, as the party barred reporters from the ABC, *The Age*, and *The Guardian*, citing ‘spin’ and ‘character assassination.’ Hanson defended the decision, claiming the outlets had treated her unfairly for decades and preferring Rebel News Australia. While the *Guardian* highlighted this as part of a broader pattern of media exclusion, the ABC and *The Age* focused on the immediate implications for coverage of regional Victoria. The exclusion also sparked criticism from within the party, with Pickering threatening legal action against outlets he accused of bias, though no lawsuits have been filed as of the articles’ publication.

Uncertainties remain about One Nation’s electoral prospects, with polling suggesting support may have peaked. The party’s decision to delay full policy announcements until ‘within a month’ leaves key details unresolved, though Pickering signaled priorities around farmers, crime, and corruption. Labor’s internal divisions, including Carroll’s recent leadership challenge, add to the volatility ahead of November. Meanwhile, the scrapping of group voting tickets—mentioned by the *Guardian*—could either help or hinder One Nation’s candidates, depending on how voters respond to individual rather than party-backed slates. The party’s next steps, including lower house candidate announcements and policy rollouts, will determine whether its momentum translates into seats.