‘Secret methods’: One Nation to use advanced tech to weed out bad candidates

Exclusive: Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party will use advanced technology to weed out nightmare candidates as they fight to keep their position as the most popular party in Australia.

The Australian Financial Review/Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll revealed primary support for One Nation had jumped four percentage points to 31 per cent since the pre-budget poll a month ago, leapfrogging Labor in primary support.

Nine.com.au can reveal Senator Hanson’s headquarters has started using a new vetting process not seen by Australian political parties to run a close eye over applications, including 1200 people the party claims have put their hands up to run in the Victoria state election.

Hanson and her coterie of close advisers are determined not to put the party’s growing appeal at risk, vowing it is “well on the way” to leaving behind the days of controversial candidates and damaging defections, by combining Australian tech start-up and hi-tech deep dive vetting processes borrowed from overseas, including the United States. 

The party refused to say what the processes were fearing they could be replicated by other political parties.

“We’ve got our secret methods,” Hanson’s right-hand man and long-time chief of staff James Ashby told nine.com.au. 

“We don’t want to be giving away the IP to other political parties so that they can get a one-upmanship on us.

“We’ve now got the tech… and psychological tests… that gives us the one-upmanship over the other parties.” 

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New general manager Kelvin Morton, who worked for Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 companies in the United States and the United Kingdom, said the technology gave “insights into people’s background and characters never previously had”.

“We’re able to look at all aspects of financial, criminal, civil litigation that they may have been involved in,” he said. 

“We’re also able to get a very comprehensive deep dive into all of their social media content and do a very thorough assessment of what all of those things amount to in terms of their character.” 

One Nation’s history of candidates and elected members includes turncoat Brian Burston, Fraser Anning who hit a teenager and was condemned for his response to the Christchurch terror attack, while former Senator Rod Culleton lied about bankruptcy. 

Other candidates have posted antisemitic and homophobic content online, and split from the party after falling out with One Nation leadership. 

The Liberals have recently revived an old line from One Nation’s star recruit Barnaby Joyce in an attack ad about the party’s history of candidates. 

“So often with One Nation… there’s just 20 per cent that are bat poo crazy,” Joyce said in the video, comments the once-Deputy Prime Minister made before he joined the party last year. 

Morton acknowledged the party’s history is a challenge if it is to be successful at the next federal election. 

“I wouldn’t say they’re quite behind us yet [but] I think that we are well on the way to having those days behind us,” Morton said. 

“Part of that includes how we vet and assess candidates, employees, and anybody that takes up a role within One Nation.”

However, the party did re-hire — and then fire — Sean Black, who was jailed for rape in 2018, despite another staffer and candidates alleging they warned Senator Hanson and her staff about Black’s history. 

“[David Goodridge] provided information about a smack on a back and it was advised of him to take any of those matters to police and I stand by that,” Ashby said. 

“If anyone comes to our attention as being somebody who shouldn’t be within the party we’ll ensure that they’re removed as swiftly as possible.” 

Labor’s primary vote fell three points to 28 per cent and the Coalition dipped further to 20 per cent.

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Labor leads One Nation on a two-party-preferred basis, but the gap has narrowed from 10 points to just 51-49.

The party acknowledges the risk One Nation poses to its own vote, but expects it to unravel under scrutiny. 

However, Ashby issued the major parties a warning; that the conservative outfit is not the organisation it once was. 

“Don’t underestimate the technology that One Nation now has at our ready to be able to, not just vet candidates, but also get our messaging out there a lot stronger to voters across the country,” Ashby said. 

“There are always trip hazards in any election cycle but… I think you’re going to see none or next to none from parties like One Nation moving forward.”