One Nation candidate Parminder Singh's homophobic comments spark party backlash

Consensus Summary

A former One Nation candidate in Western Australia, Parminder Singh, sparked controversy after describing homosexuality as a 'mental illness' in a video posted last month. Singh, who was third on the party’s Legislative Council ticket for the 2025 state election, claimed gay parades 'advertise' homosexuality to young people and that marriage equality should not have been legalised. The comments resurfaced after ABC inquiries led to the swift removal of his candidate page from the One Nation website, with party leader Pauline Hanson and WA leader Rod Caddies distancing themselves from his views. Singh later apologised, saying he had repeated claims he heard on social media and that he respects everyone’s right to live with dignity. The incident has reignited debates about One Nation’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, particularly as the party seeks to broaden its appeal ahead of upcoming elections in Victoria and South Australia.

The controversy stems from Singh’s inflammatory remarks, which were first reported by ABC on Wednesday afternoon and later picked up by the Guardian. Singh’s comments, made in a video interview with Perth comedian Jasky Singh (Mr Sikkant), included claims that gay people were 'not natural' and that animals were 'smarter' because they were not gay. He also suggested that women who experiment with same-sex relationships 'never go back' to men, framing his views as concerns about the influence of gay parades on young people. The video, posted last month, was shared widely after Singh’s profile was removed from the One Nation website, signaling the party’s disapproval. Despite his apology, Singh’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and politicians, including WA Labor minister John Carey, who called the comments 'extreme, divisive, and nasty'.

Key figures in the story include One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who quickly distanced herself from Singh’s views, stating he was no longer a candidate and that his comments did not reflect her own beliefs. Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation MP, went further, declaring the party as 'one of the gayest parties in Australia' and calling Singh’s comments 'highly offensive'. Joyce’s remarks were met with both amusement and skepticism, as One Nation has historically been associated with conservative social views. Meanwhile, Jason Virgo, an openly gay One Nation MP in South Australia, delivered an emotional speech in parliament about his Muslim migrant partner of 11 years, highlighting the party’s internal contradictions on LGBTQ+ issues. Cory Bernardi, the party’s South Australian leader, has also faced scrutiny for his past comments linking same-sex marriage to polygamy and bestiality, which he has refused to retract.

While the ABC and Guardian largely agree on the core facts—Singh’s homophobic remarks, his removal from the party’s website, and the party’s response—they differ in some details. The ABC provides more context about Singh’s past involvement in the party, including his campaigning in the current Secret Harbour by-election and his interactions with other candidates. The Guardian, however, focuses more on the broader implications for One Nation’s candidate vetting process, citing the recent removal of Aoi Baxter ahead of the South Australian election due to a warrant for his arrest in the UK. Additionally, the ABC includes specific references to Singh’s comments about animals and his mention of a 'third sex' category, while the Guardian emphasizes the party’s growing pains as it expands. Both outlets, however, highlight the tension between One Nation’s public image and its internal diversity on social issues.

The fallout from Singh’s comments has exposed deeper divisions within One Nation, particularly as the party navigates its evolving stance on LGBTQ+ rights. While figures like Joyce and Virgo suggest the party is becoming more inclusive, others, such as Bernardi, continue to hold controversial views. The incident has also drawn attention to the party’s candidate selection process, with critics arguing that its vetting procedures are inconsistent. As One Nation prepares for the Victorian state election in November and other upcoming contests, the party faces pressure to clarify its position on social issues. The 2026 Census, which will provide data on the number of gay, lesbian, and bisexual Australians, may further influence political strategies, though the party’s approach remains uncertain. For now, the controversy has underscored the challenges of balancing ideological purity with electoral pragmatism in modern Australian politics.