Key facts
- One Nation has announced eight candidates for the upcoming Victorian election.
- Among the candidates are a former Liberal party member, an animator for anti-woke films, and a former police officer who claimed to have worked on former premier Daniel Andrews' personal protection team.
- Leader Pauline Hanson revealed the candidates at a press conference, where she also restricted access for certain media outlets.
- The candidates will lead One Nation's upper house tickets in the November state election.
- The party's current polling suggests these candidates are its most likely prospects to win seats, especially with recent changes to voting ticket rules.
One Nation has unveiled eight candidates for the upcoming Victorian state election, including a former Liberal party member, an animator known for anti-woke films, and a former police officer who claimed to have served on former premier Daniel Andrews' personal protection team. Leader Pauline Hanson announced the candidates, who will lead the party's upper house tickets, at a press conference. Hanson also restricted media access to the event, citing a desire to avoid negative press from outlets like the ABC and The Guardian.
Among the new candidates is Colleen Harkin, who left the Liberal party to join One Nation and was involved in a legal challenge concerning a loan to MP John Pesutto. Mark Nicholson, a co-founder of animation house Stepmates Studios, which produces Hanson's web series and satirical films, will stand in the northern metropolitan region. Geelong councillor and former police officer Chris Burson will contest western Victoria, having previously run for minor parties. Burson stated on a podcast that he worked with the close personal protection team for Daniel Andrews during the pandemic.
One Nation's current MP, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, will seek re-election in Northern Victoria. The party's Victorian president, Warren Pickering, who led the campaign in the 2022 election, will also be a candidate. The announcement comes as new Victorian Premier Ben Carroll introduced legislation to abolish group voting tickets, a change that could significantly impact One Nation's chances of winning seats if current polling holds. Despite this, Hanson expressed confidence in her team's ability to challenge the Labor government.