'Insidious money grab': Aspiring candidates slam One Nation processes

Aspiring candidates have slammed the preselection process of Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, claiming it is a shambolic, money-making exercise. Jennifer Game, once a party leader in South Australia, said she would not vote for One Nation at the next election after witnessing its operations. She described Pauline Hanson as becoming more dependent on her chief of staff, James Ashby, and less democratic.

One Nation's rise in Australian politics has seen Senator Hanson's party emerge as a third force, challenging the Coalition's hold on regional Australia. However, experienced political candidates who sought to run for One Nation in the upcoming Victorian state election found the process slow, chaotic, and not merit-based. Six would-be candidates have criticized the party's preselection process as exploitative, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis.

They were charged $150 to apply and an additional $5,500 if chosen to run, leading to accusations of an "insidious money grab." Party insiders reported that only 160 of the 1,200 applicants were allowed to participate in 15-minute Zoom interviews with a three-person panel, which some candidates found to be scripted and inane. Critics argue that the process does not reward quality candidates, making it possible for less deserving individuals to gain preselection.