Crashing question time, backing anti-vax bills: One Nation leader looms large at parliament

“I want to understand who are the people behind the machine ... from one analyst or former analyst to another, let’s have a debate about how you do things,” Newman said.

Newman said his visit to the Legislative Council during the vaccine speech was simply a coincidence – but told reporters he thought Ruddick’s idea, while not official One Nation policy, “has a lot of merit”.

The One Nation leader said he was visiting parliament “to measure the curtains” and to get a sense of how the parliament works, given his party has never been in government. He told reporters he was not on a recruitment drive, and insisted he had not spoken to Ruddick about joining One Nation, as the Libertarian watched the press conference in a vibrant orange tie.

Newman said he had a friendly chat with Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane while in the chamber, but did not say whether he met with any other state MPs.

Newman’s visit comes as the Herald reported on Wednesday a conga line of former Liberal and National politicians were vying to run for One Nation at the next state election, including former Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, and former Liberals Hollie Hughes and Lou Amato.

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