Lead

One Nation has unveiled its leadership and candidate lineup for Victoria's November state election, signaling an ambitious campaign that could disrupt the two-party contest. Warren Pickering, the party's Victorian president, will lead the campaign and run as its candidate for the eastern Victoria region, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian. The announcement comes as published polling shows One Nation attracting at least a quarter of Victorian voters, a development that has complicated planning for both the Labor government and the Coalition.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia and The Guardian both reported on the party's candidate announcements and leadership ambitions, but their coverage diverged in focus. ABC Australia emphasized the party's rise in polls and its potential impact on the election, while also highlighting economic decline in Gippsland as a driver of voter dissatisfaction. The Guardian, meanwhile, focused on the party's policy positions and leadership, including controversial comments by Pickering on mass deportations and the party's use of "ghost candidates."

Both outlets noted that One Nation is contesting the election with the stated intention of governing, with Pickering declaring, "We intend for this to be a November to remember and we are contesting to govern." However, The Guardian's coverage was more critical, examining internal contradictions in the party's messaging.

Key Claims

  • One Nation's rise in Victorian polls has thrown plans into disarray for both the Labor government and the Coalition, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • The closure of coal mines, power plants, and timber mills in Gippsland has contributed to economic decline, according to ABC Australia.
  • One Nation is attracting at least a quarter of Victorian voters, according to published polling cited by ABC Australia.
  • Warren Pickering, One Nation's Victorian president, will lead the party's campaign and run as its candidate for the eastern Victoria region, as reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • Pauline Hanson's age and potential impact on the party's leadership were discussed by Warren Pickering, who suggested politicians over 55 should "handball it to the next generation," as reported by The Guardian.
  • Warren Pickering has previously said mass deportations in Australia are "not a reality" and "won't happen," despite One Nation's policy to deport 75,000 people who have overstayed visas, as reported by The Guardian.
  • One Nation has announced candidates for the Victorian election, including Colleen Harkin, Mark Nicholson, and Chris Burson, as reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • One Nation's policy on mass deportations is to deport 75,000 people who have overstayed visas, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

One Nation's Leadership

Warren Pickering, One Nation's Victorian president, expressed confidence in the party's ability to win government outright, stating, "We can win in our own right. Let's take this state back." He also emphasized the party's focus on farmers, crime, and corruption, and promised to release a state-based agenda within a month.

Major Parties' Concerns

Victorian Labor faces a tough battle to retain government, with former deputy premier Ben Carroll warning that "polling says Victoria is on track for Australia's first Liberal-One Nation government." Coalition MPs and insiders acknowledge that Gippsland seats are particularly vulnerable to a One Nation campaign, with the seat of Morwell dubbed "ground zero" for the party.

Regional Voter Sentiment

Jodie Hamill, a former publican from Sale, expressed support for One Nation, saying, "Living in the country, I don't know anyone that's going to vote Liberal or Labor anymore. They're wanting to vote One Nation and give 'em a go." This sentiment is echoed throughout rural and regional Victoria, where economic decline has fueled dissatisfaction with the major parties.

Media Access Controversy

Pauline Hanson held a press conference to announce the candidates but denied access to reporters from the ABC, the Age, and the Guardian, saying, "Democracy doesn't happen on the ABC at all." She defended her decision, citing past treatment by the media, and expressed satisfaction with coverage from Rebel News Australia.