Pauline’s phantoms: One Nation defends its so-called ‘ghost candidates’

Dozens of candidates running for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation have no public profile, while several “ghost candidates” live far from the seats they are contesting.

Dozens of candidates running for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation on May 3 have no official profile on the party’s website and several others – dubbed “ghost candidates” – live far away from the seats they are contesting.

One Nation is challenging in 147 of the 150 lower house seats, but analysis has found only 118 have a biography on the party’s website, while some have zero social media presence related to their candidacy and have not been seen in the electorate during the campaign.

The party uploaded 10 candidate profiles after being contacted by this masthead in recent days.

A party spokesman has argued some candidates are less “visible” because they were juggling family or work commitments and insisted they wanted to contest the majority of seats in order to be a “national party”

“It’s true that some candidates are more visible than others, but that’s simply because many are juggling work and family responsibilities” the spokesman said.

“All candidates have been nominated through a formal process, interviewed, and then voted on by all members of the federal executive,” he said.

Rod Smith, who is running for One Nation against Anthony Albanese in the Prime Minister’s safe seat of Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west, lives in Byron Bay.

Mr Smith said he wanted voters to “register a protest vote on Albo and Labor in Grayndler”.

“And regarding not living in the electorate, does Albo live in his electorate? I thought he bought a $4m home up north somewhere. I’ll be in Grayndler all the time I can,” he said.

In Victoria, One Nation’s candidate for the regional seat of Bendigo, Heather Freeman, has no online presence related to her candidacy and has not responded directly to attempts to contact her.

One Nation has confirmed she does live in Bendigo, and is the same candidate who previously contested the Sydney electorate of Parramatta for One Nation in 2022.

Peter McCasker, One Nation's candidate for Longman, lives in Yeppoon but says he plans to move to the electorate where he’s standing.

In Longman, based in Queensland’s Moreton Bay, the party’s candidate is Peter McCasker, who has been living six hours away in Yeppoon.

Mr McCasker said he’s planning to move to Longman, and is hoping to be in the electorate for pre-poll this week and on election day.

“I stand with Pauline – I’ve always stood with Pauline. I believe in ... let’s get Australia going again,” Mr McCasker said.

Rod Roberts, a NSW Upper House MP who quit One Nation in 2023 due to concerns over internal operations, told THIS MASTHEAD “I really question their motives for running ghost candidates”, however One Nation has refuted the suggestion this is a money-making exercise engaged in by the party.

Until Monday their candidate for Berowra in NSW was listed as Andrew Baker.

However - calls to Mr Baker confirmed he was “not running” due to a paperwork issue. Another man, Gerald Mattinson is listed by the Electoral Commission as their official candidate.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson with her daughter Lee Hanson, the party's Senate candidate for Tasmania. Picture: One Nation

Under current laws - candidates and parties are eligible for taxpayer funds if they get at least 4 per cent of the primary vote in their seat.

This triggers a minimum payment of $12,379, but the amount can vary depending on how much expenditure is proven.

During the 2022 election, when One Nation was also criticised for having “ghost candidates”, the party received at least 4 per cent of the primary vote in more than 80 seats.

One Nation secured no lower house seats, and only achieved one Senate position, which was filled by Ms Hanson. But after stating their claim for additional electoral spending, the party was handed a final cheque from taxpayers of more than $3m.

That same election Labor netted $27m and the Liberals received $26m in public funds – although the two parties won more than 100 lower house seats combined.

A One Nation spokesman said the “vast majority” of funds came from “everyday Australians” there was a limit to what the party could spend and therefore claim back. “The amount we claim will be only a fraction of what we’re eligible for,” he said.

In a statement, the Australian Electoral Commission said “you only get funding for what you have spent...this is not a money-making exercise.”

The AEC also said there was “no requirement” in electoral laws for a candidate to reside in the electorate, state or territory where they are running for parliament.

Originally published as Pauline’s phantoms: One Nation defends its so-called ‘ghost candidates’