One Nation withdrew $809,648 of election funding claims after AEC queries

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show the Australian Electoral Commission questioned One Nation about more than $800,000 of claimed electoral expenditure for the last election, prompting the party to withdraw 143 items totalling $809,648.11.

The withdrawals amounted to almost 15% of the party’s $6.01m public funding claim, and the AEC is examining whether payments reimbursed in the claim breached electoral funding laws. One Nation continues to raise significant funds, including more than $7m banked after its South Australian election result, while its federal funding claim is under review.

As the party’s registered agent, Pauline Hanson signed a declaration warning she would face criminal penalties if she submitted an incomplete, false or misleading claim. The party has previously been forced to repay public funding after the 2019 and 2022 elections, and in 2021 the AEC said about $165,000 of expenses were not electoral expenditure.

Australia, South Australia

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