{
  "id": 6259999,
  "title": "One Nation Victoria leader admits to drug use, drink-driving.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/one-nation-victoria-leader-admits-to-drug-use-drink-driving",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T09:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
    "slug": "the-sydney-morning-herald",
    "url": "https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/one-nation-victoria-leader-admits-to-drug-use-drink-driving-20260908-p60vjz.html?ref=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Warren Pickering, the Victorian leader of One Nation, has acknowledged using illicit drugs in his 20s, including methamphetamines, ecstasy, and marijuana. According to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, he stated that he has not used these substances for at least 16 years and had previously disclosed this history to his party.\n\nPickering also admitted to making mistakes, including losing his license multiple times for drink driving, and hurting people he loved. The Guardian Australia reported that he expressed regret for his actions, saying they \"hurt people I loved, and I will live with that forever\".\n\nPickering denied claims made by his ex-partner, published by The Australian, that he smoked crystal meth in front of children. He also stated that he was considering taking legal action against The Australian. A press conference was held, but The Guardian Australia and the ABC were not allowed to attend.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering admits to previous drug use",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/one-nation-victorian-leader-warren-pickering-admits-to-previous-drug",
        "published": "2026-09-08T06:31:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "One Nation state leader admits to drug use",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/one-nation-state-leader-admits-to-drug-use-6252666",
        "published": "2026-09-08T07:58:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "One Nation state leader admits to drug use",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/one-nation-state-leader-admits-to-drug-use",
        "published": "2026-09-08T07:58:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "One Nation’s Warren Pickering admits to illegal drug use and says he is ‘no angel’ in extraordinary press conference",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/one-nations-warren-pickering-admits-to-illegal-drug-use-and-says-he",
        "published": "2026-09-08T08:04:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}