Controversy swirls around the handling of campaign finances for One Nation's Nepean byelection candidate, Darren Hercus, as the party asserts no personal bank accounts were used for donations, while declining to definitively rule out that such advice was ever given.
Reports surfaced Friday, alleging that One Nation's Victorian president, Warren Pickering, advised candidate Darren Hercus to channel campaign donations through a personal bank account. This claim comes from two former party members who have since resigned over concerns regarding the party's financial probity. These former members assert that the advice was given on February 22, and one has provided statutory declarations detailing the incident.
The party, led by Pauline Hanson, held a press conference on Saturday, with Hercus present, ahead of the May 2 byelection for the Nepean seat on the Mornington Peninsula. While Hanson and Pickering stated that no personal account was utilized, they remained tight-lipped on whether the specific advice had been issued. Pickering alluded to the state executive providing "rational, logical advice," and Hanson suggested candidates are typically not involved in the intricacies of campaign finances due to their complexity. Hercus himself admitted to having no visibility over financial matters.
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The allegations arrive as Victoria's electoral laws concerning donation reporting faced a significant shift on Wednesday, when the high court invalidated previously existing regulations. This ruling effectively removed certain safeguards prior to the state's November general election.
The party leadership has blamed the reports on disgruntled former members, with Pickering indicating that legal action is being considered against them. This incident echoes other recent financial disputes involving the party. Two One Nation MPs in the New South Wales Parliament, Rod Roberts and Mark Latham, recently quit the party, alleging that officials had improperly funnelled state funds. Those claims have been referred to the NSW Electoral Commission for investigation.
One Nation has seen a noticeable increase in polling support in recent months. The party leader, Pauline Hanson, has rejected the claims of financial impropriety, asserting that the party's finances undergo regular audits.
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