Election 2022: AFP called in as One Nation candidate Malcolm Heffernan accused of trying to run in two seats in WA and NSW

Federal police called in as Malcolm Heffernan accused of running for two parties on opposite sides of the country.

A minor party candidate has been referred to the Australian Federal Police after nominating himself for two different political parties and seats.

Malcolm Heffernan – who contested the seat of Canning for Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party in 2019 – allegedly used two different birthdays and names to nominate as a candidate for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in the NSW seat of Banks, and the Australian Federation Party for the WA seat of Brand.

In a statement on Friday, the Australian Electoral Commission said Mr Heffernan had been referred to authorities for contravening the Electoral Act and to determine “whether a crime has been committed”

“We have notified Mr Heffernan and both registered political parties regarding this referral,” the AEC said.

The AEC said each of his nomination forms had a signed declaration that he “did not intend to be a candidate in any other election held the same day”.

The contravention means Mr Heffernan will be unable to be elected, but the nominations must remain as they were “formally declared” on April 22 as ballot papers had been printed and postal vote packs distributed.

Malcolm Heffernan is listed as a candidate on the Australian Federation Party website, but no photograph or profile information has been added. He is not listed on One Nation’s website.

Australian Federation Party director Mark Aldridge told perthnow the situation is a mix-up, after he completed a nomination form for One Nation in Banks but was then told the vacancy had been filled, and he was no longer needed.

“We had his WA seat (Brand) available, I did a bit of research on him, found him to be half reasonable. and so we endorsed him and filed the paperwork correctly,” Mr Aldridge said.