One Nation co-founder David Oldfield says One Nation has become ‘a cult’

THE man who convinced Pauline Hanson to start a political party says she’s now the last person in Australia who should be running one.

CO-FOUNDER of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation David Oldfield has unloaded on the party’s leader.

Mr Oldfield gave a scathing interview following Senator Hanson’s bizarre call to boycott Cadbury this Easter because the confectionary manufacturer’s products were halal certified.

Responding to his former colleague’s comments, Mr Oldfield admitted Easter bunny bans were not what he had in mind when forming One Nation 20 years ago.

“There’s a lot bigger things for the organisation to be doing, and sadly, that’s not what’s taking place,” he told Brisbane’s 97.3FM.

Claiming credit for coming up with the party’s name, and convincing its leader to give it a go in the first place, Mr Oldfield said One Nation just isn’t what it used to be, and that “adulation” had gone to its leader’s head.

David Oldfield launched Pauline Hanson’s One Nation with Ms Hanson 20 years ago.

“We didn’t start it to be where it is now. We started it to go beyond Pauline Hanson,” he said.

“The party won’t reach its full potential or do what it could do to actually make a difference in the lives of Australia.

“I don’t think that Pauline has any notion in her head that the party goes anywhere after her.”

When asked about Ms Hanson’s motivations, Mr Oldfield said it was all about ego.

“She’s doing it for adulation, she’s doing it for a living, she’s doing it because she loves the attention,” he said.

Mr Oldfield warned that “unless One Nation can evolve beyond being a cult and a fan club”, the party wouldn’t be able to achieve any serious difference.

David Oldfield says One Nation has become ‘a cult’. Picture: SBS

“Pauline quite simply on her own does not have the management or intellectual capacity to make any of these things work,” he said.

“I don’t believe One Nation will ever achieve anything other than attention, other than adulation and other than shock value, as they currently do.

“Will we ever see serious changes legislation-wise, or societally, or in Australia as consequence of One Nation? Not beyond what we’ve seen.”

Mr Oldfield ended the interview with a parting shot at Ms Hanson: “The last person who should be in charge of a political party and making serious change and difference to Australia is Pauline Hanson.”

The former One Nation member’s blast follows the 20th anniversary of One Nation’s founding, and a series of odd videos from Ms Hanson announcing boycotts on the ABC and Cadbury.