Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party withdrew more than $800,000 in election spending claims after the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) questioned almost 15% of its $6.01 million public funding claim for the last federal election, documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal.
Party withdraws 143 items after AEC inquiries
The documents, released under freedom of information laws, show that the AEC’s compliance officer raised questions about 143 expense items in late October, prompting the party to voluntarily withdraw them. In an email, the party’s operations manager Alex Jones stated: “I wish to voluntarily withdraw the 143 items which have been queried totalling $809,648.11 from the party’s interim claim, to allow us more time to assess the queries and provide appropriate responses for each in the party’s final claim.”
The AEC is now examining whether One Nation breached electoral funding laws for payments to certain suppliers that were reimbursed in the claim. Hanson, as the party’s registered agent, could face criminal penalties if she submitted an “incomplete, false, or misleading claim” to a commonwealth entity, according to the declaration she signed.
Previous funding disputes and compliance issues
This is not the first time One Nation has faced scrutiny over election funding. In 2021, the AEC subjected Hanson to an enforceable undertaking after finding she had claimed about $165,000 in expenses that were either not electoral expenditure or had not been incurred. The party has also been forced to repay funding after the 2019 and 2022 elections. Additionally, the NSW Electoral Commission denied funding claims in 2021, finding One Nation incorrectly claimed $118,000 for electoral material, including merchandising.
Guardian Australia has previously reported concerns from former candidates that the party operates as a “money making scheme.” Financial records for the Queensland division, lodged with the Office of Fair Trading, showed the party had not submitted any financial reports since 2022, with a leading expert describing them as “sloppy and unprofessional” and revealing missing and worthless assets of over $1 million.
AEC investigation ongoing
The AEC has refused to release key documents detailing the party’s funding claim, citing an ongoing investigation. In a decision letter, the AEC stated: “The two documents in question identify suppliers associated with PHON’s electoral expenditure and form part of the evidentiary basis for the current investigation. Disclosure would therefore reveal aspects of the scope and evidentiary focus of the investigation.” The AEC added that releasing the documents could prejudice the investigation and the proper administration of the law.
One Nation did not respond to questions from Guardian Australia about the AEC review. The party continues to raise millions from supporters, including over $7 million after its success in the South Australian election.
