Key facts
- One Nation could collect up to $633,000 from candidates for the Victorian state election.
- Applicants paid a $150 non-refundable application fee.
- Party membership costs a minimum of $60 annually.
- Preselected candidates are expected to pay $5,500 towards their campaign.
- The party anticipates $528,000 from candidate fees for lower and upper house candidates.
- One Nation is projected to receive up to $10 million from Victoria's public electoral funding scheme.
One Nation is facing scrutiny over its candidate selection process for the upcoming Victorian state election, with potential candidates questioning the party's motives and describing the requirements as a "cash grab." Applicants claim they were subjected to a "pay-to-play" system, involving a non-refundable application fee, party membership, and a significant campaign contribution, even for electorates deemed unwinnable.
Multiple former councillors, mayors, and deputy mayors who expressed interest in running for the party reported being rejected after going through the application process. Invoices seen by The Guardian show a $150 non-refundable application fee. The party stated that 1,209 people expressed interest, with approximately 220 proceeding to the final stage, potentially generating $33,000 from application fees alone. Additionally, party membership, costing at least $60 annually, could bring in an estimated $72,000. Candidates who were preselected were also advised they would need to contribute $5,500 of their own money for their campaign, which could amount to $528,000 for 88 lower house and eight upper house candidates.
A political consultant who previously worked with One Nation in Victoria described the situation as a "money-spinning exercise" where the party was "disproportionately focusing on profits over policy." The party is also expected to receive substantial funding through Victoria's public electoral funding scheme, potentially up to $10 million.
Some applicants raised concerns about the legitimacy of the 15-minute video interviews and the requirement to sign non-disclosure agreements. There are also suggestions that upper house candidates were "captain's picks" by state leader Warren Pickering, overlooking experienced individuals. A complaint letter from a former mayor stated that many candidates felt "used, lied to, misled and gaslit," with the process appearing to be a "cover to conceal decisions that had already been substantially made." One applicant expressed belief that the funds were being raised for the federal election, stating, "My feeling is they are just using all of the states to fundraise for the federal election where they want to take power."