One Nation faces claims it sought up to $633,000 from Victorian election applicants
One Nation could collect as much as $633,000 from people who expressed interest in running for the party in Victoria’s state election, according to Guardian Australia. Former councillors, mayors and deputy mayors said they experienced what one applicant described as a “pay-to-play” process before being rejected, while a complaint letter alleged applicants felt used or misled.
One Nation could collect as much as $633,000 from people who have expressed interest in running for the party in the Victorian state election, according to Guardian Australia.
The report said multiple former councillors, mayors and deputy mayors described the application process as “pay-to-play” and questioned whether the party was conducting a “cash grab”. The applicants said they were rejected after going through the process.
A complaint letter seen by Guardian Australia said many applicants felt “used, lied to, misled and gaslit”.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
What fees, if any, were applicants required to pay, and what were those payments intended to cover?
How did One Nation explain its candidate-selection process to applicants before they applied?
What criteria were used to reject applicants after they completed the process?
What protections exist for people who pay to seek political candidacy but are not selected?
YOUR QUESTION
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GLOBAL CURIOSITY MAP · SEPTEMBER 2026