One Nation has officially launched its Victorian election campaign at Crown Casino, unveiling a series of controversial policy pledges and a candidate list that has already drawn intense scrutiny.
The party’s platform, centered on promises to “restore safety and prosperity,” includes a commitment to legalise the personal use of pepper spray for self-defence. Furthermore, the party vowed to abolish the state’s treaty with Indigenous people and scrap payroll tax for businesses operating in regional Victoria.
The launch was not without digital mishaps. An attempt to promote a policy aimed at making it easier to establish new businesses backfired on social media when the party used an AI-generated image of a “taaditional” fish and chip shop, featuring misspelled text and distorted aesthetics.
The campaign rollout introduced a diverse—and divisive—roster of candidates for both the upper and lower houses. Among them are a former Liberal member with alleged ties to underworld figures, a former shire councillor who previously lost his license for drink-driving, and a naturopath who has publicly echoed debunked claims linking paracetamol to autism. Mark Nicholson, a candidate for the Northern Metropolitan region and the architect of the party’s “Please Explain” cartoon, drew headlines at the event by declaring that if One Nation were to win, former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan would be “in prison by Christmas.”
One Nation, which has gained a reputation for restricting media access, reportedly barred several mainstream outlets from the launch, including the ABC and The Age.
While party leader Pauline Hanson campaigned on a platform of law and order, the party’s policy details remained largely thin. Attendees were circulated a 63-page document titled “The Real Deal for Victoria,” which included a pledge to “gang up on gangs,” though the party’s website indicated that a finalized crime policy was still undergoing updates as of Saturday afternoon. Victorian state president Warren Pickering insisted that bail laws and police presence remain the party’s primary focus.
The event has been clouded by internal and external controversy. The party is facing allegations of a potential “cash grab,” with reports suggesting it could collect upwards of $633,000 from individuals nominating as candidates. Additionally, while framing itself as a champion of the working class, One Nation has faced ongoing questions regarding Pauline Hanson’s close ties to billionaire Gina Rinehart, including reports of Hanson’s use of private jets and stays at luxury mansions owned by the mining magnate.
Estimates of the crowd size at the launch varied wildly, with the party claiming an attendance of more than 1,000, while other reports suggested the figure was significantly lower. Outside the venue, a small group of protesters gathered, monitored by a police presence.
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