One Nation unveils leaders months out from state poll

One Nation has announced its lead candidates for the upcoming state election in New South Wales, scheduled for March 13, 2027. Former NSW trade commissioner Mike Newman, 54, will lead the party's parliamentary ticket, running in the traditionally Labor voting seat of Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Newman will focus on regional issues and business during his campaign, emphasizing the need to create a more favorable environment for businesses to generate jobs, stimulate economic growth, and enhance state prosperity.

Stuart Bonds, a 40-year-old cattle farmer and serial One Nation candidate, has been appointed as the leader of the party's upper house ticket. Bonds will concentrate on the concerns of primary industries in his campaign, asserting that One Nation supports miners and farmers, as well as regional communities that rely on these sectors.

Labor's Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison criticized the new One Nation leaders, stating that they join a party with a poor track record in the Hunter region. Aitchison questioned Newman's stance on train manufacturing in the Hunter and challenged Bonds to explain his party's position on whether trains should be built in the Hunter or overseas. Aitchison accused Newman and Bonds of prioritizing slogans over genuine support for Australian workers, particularly in the context of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state.