Lead
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is facing the threat of deregistration in Queensland after failing to meet its legal obligations to lodge audited financial statements with the state's regulator. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has confirmed that One Nation Queensland Division Inc, the party's entity in the state, has been given until 18 August 2026 to submit the outstanding documents, following the late filing of annual returns that lacked the required audited accounts.
One Nation has vowed to hand in the overdue accounts, with a party spokesman telling the ABC: "One Nation is complying with the Office of Fair Trading's requirements, which have requested we lodge audited financial statements by 18 August 2026."
Coverage Comparison
Reporting from the ABC and The Guardian — World highlights different aspects of the story. The ABC focuses on the party's commitment to resolve the issue, noting that the OFT confirmed the deadline and that the division had lodged its annual returns but without the required audited financial statements. The Guardian — World places greater emphasis on the broader context of the party's financial management, citing previous reporting that One Nation has repeatedly failed to meet legal requirements for running an incorporated association, including holding annual general meetings on time and filing annual and financial reports late.
Both outlets report that the OFT had requested the party file its last three years of annual returns, and that the returns were lodged on 3 July but did not include the audited financial statements required under Queensland's Associations Incorporation Act 1981.
The Guardian — World also references previously reported findings that the party's returns filed up until 2022 revealed more than $1 million in missing or worthless assets, which the party has refused to explain. This prompted criticism of its "sloppy" accounting methods, a characterization not present in the ABC's report.
Key Claims
- One Nation has failed to lodge audited financial statements for the financial years 2023 to 2025, as required by Queensland's Office of Fair Trading. This is reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.
- The Office of Fair Trading has given One Nation Queensland Division Inc until 18 August 2026 to file the outstanding statements. Both outlets report this deadline.
- Senator Pauline Hanson is listed as president of the Queensland division, according to her register of interests, as reported by ABC Australia.
- The Queensland division is registered as an incorporated association but failed to supply annual records as required, with legislation indicating six months after the end of a financial year, as reported by ABC Australia.
- The Guardian — World reports that more than $1 million in missing or worthless assets were found in the party's returns filed up until 2022, and that the party has refused to explain this.
- The Guardian — World also reports that the party has repeatedly failed to hold annual general meetings on time and has repeatedly filed annual and financial reports late.
- A single-source claim, reported by The Guardian — World, states that Alex Jones pleaded guilty to attempted electoral fraud in 2023. This is presented without additional context in the provided material.