One Nation is collecting donations from wealthy businessmen who previously only donated to the Liberal Party ahead of Victoria’s state election, but concerns remain over whether the opposition party’s disorganization could undermine its fundraising efforts.
Melbourne’s private property developers are leading the charge, pledging large sums of money to One Nation in return for championing key policy areas including some of the controversial property taxes being introduced by the Allan government.
Businessmen tied to successful mid-sized and medium-sized businesses are also throwing cash into the One Nation party to defend strongly against the crackdown on small businesses and government work from home policy in the run-up to the November election.
The shift in support from wealthy major donors was confirmed by five sources familiar with the Liberal Party’s fundraising activities in the state, who all spoke on condition of anonymity.
A similar trend has been recorded federally, where the party led by Pauline Hanson, in particular, has gained the support of billionaire miner Gina Rinehart and broker Angus Aitken. The federal One Nation Fire the Liar campaign targeting Anthony Albanese has already raised $5 million.
There are concerns about how One Nation could retain hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations without violating donation laws.
Just two donations to One Nation winners, totaling $6239, have been revealed in the Victorian Electoral Commission’s live database – raising questions about how and where One Nation receives its state campaign donations.
There have already been questions about his management of campaign funds after Age revealed Nepean by-election candidate Darren Hercus it was ordered using his personal bank account to receive donations – party claims he denied vehemently.
It is also unclear whether donations from well-heeled Victorians have been officially received and whether they have been directed to the government or the party federation.
The delay in disclosure may also be due to donations pledged to candidates that have not yet been approved or are on hold pending revisions to state donation limits. they were shot in early June.
There are also ways in which contributions can be combined through different formats to reduce exposure.
One Nation plans to field up to 100 candidates in the state elections, but there are fears from within its ranks that it will lose some of its donations and support due to its disruption.
The party currently has no government leader, no government fundraising base and continues to operate out of a small warehouse in Pakenham. Liberal State Executive Member Colleen Harkin, who recently withdrew from the party and signing up for One Nation, looks like a strong prospect.
It also has yet to officially endorse its candidates for the November election as it sifts through 1,200 applications from potential candidates using their fundraising ability as a key selling point for their candidacy.
The current sole representative of One Nation Winners, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, told the crowd that the increase in support for the party is likely to see it move towards a new model that relies more on donations from supporters and public funding that the party hopes to get from the number of votes it receives at the election.
“All my campaigns in the past have been self-funded, but I think moving into the future we will use a new model,” said Tyrrell, who represents Northern Victoria.
“It’s hard for me to say right now exactly what that style is. I’m not officially approved. No one is.”
Tyrrell said the growing support for the party in regional Victoria was likely to support a new financial approach where donations were used to fund campaigns – in full or in part.
“I have constituents who want to contribute, and I’d like to help them do that. That’s exciting,” he said.
Liberal Party sources confirmed that One Nation has been gathering donors at events around the city that bring together like-minded business people to hear debates on federal taxes or other government policy issues.
These incidents are not party specific, sources said. Instead, party executives from the Liberals and One Nation attend the events in hopes of garnering support for their upcoming campaigns.
Some of the donors plan to transfer all their donations to the One Nation state election campaigns, while others intend to split their pledges between the Liberals and One Nation.
Two sources have confirmed that at least one high-end Melbourne property developer has pledged hundreds of thousands to the One Nation State election campaign in return for the party agreeing to scrap the vacant property tax.
“There has been a real manipulation of donors. I attended a non-Liberal industry event and there were wealthy donors who in the past had donated to the Liberals who were clearly saying they would give to One Nation.”
Another recounted: “I was at a recent event and a developer got verbal assurances that certain policy settings would be changed if One Nation were in parliament.”
“One Nation didn’t have a policy on this tax before and now One Nation hates the tax (of open property). There was no writing, no public policy position, but he has written them a big promise in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” the source said.
Along with property developers in Victoria, local businesses are also shifting donations for increased advocacy on IR-related issues and reducing red tape.
“Jess (Wilson) has been soft on (Jacinta) Allan’s work from home policy and these small and medium businesses are scary. These are the people who are the backbone of the party,” a Liberal Party source said.
Allan’s government’s work from home policy only applies to work that can be done remotely, and does not allow small businesses employing fewer than 15 people.
A Liberal spokesperson said the party continues to announce important policies heading into November.
“Our 10-year economic plan, including land and wage tax relief, has been well received across the industry.
“Winners want change, and we’re working every day to share our solutions.”
Despite this, funds continue to be directed to One Nation.
A source close to One Nation said another donor, likely from outside Victoria, had matched Aitken’s $1 million donation to the party’s federal arm.
Aitken, who has previously donated to the Liberal Party and Advance Australia, told the Herald from his family holiday in Greece that he expected donations to continue from traditional Liberal donors – the rich and the poor.
“I gave $1 million to One Nation because I admire Pauline and her common sense approach and I am concerned about the Australia that the Labor party is creating for my children economically and socially,” he said.
“People who donate to One Nation across the board want zero from government. They just want less red tape, less green tape and they want to employ more Australians and get more from businesses across a range of industries.”
Beyond industry events, One Nation also draws support from people outside its traditional “warrior” camp at its own events, including its shindigs in South Melbourne last month.
One attendee said the fundraiser included those who included traditional Liberal Party donors and long-time supporters of the party.
“It was really spread out, there was everyone there from high net worth and high end clothes and high end handbags to people with no teeth and everyone in between.”
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Sarah Danckert is a leading journalist specializing in corporate investigations and wrongdoing. He is a two-time Walkley Award winner, and has won six Quill Awards and two Kennedy Awards.Connect through X or email address.
