One Nation amended $255,000 election spending after watchdog contact

One Nation was ordered to almost double its campaign spending details for the last Queensland election after the state’s electoral watchdog found the party failed to disclose more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Initial records filed to the Electoral Commission of Queensland declared Pauline Hanson’s party spent nearly $300,000 in 132 transactions during the October 2024 state poll.

But the electoral watchdog wrote to One Nation in late May, flagging a further 138 transactions worth more than $255,000, originally reported in an investigation by this masthead in August.

Documents submitted to the commission show Hanson requested the election summary return be amended on June 4 to “request to action ECQ correspondence dated 27 May 2026”.

The updated return reveals the party spent nearly $554,000 during the state election, where One Nation ran a candidate in all 93 electorates and secured 8 per cent of the vote without winning a seat.

An ECQ spokeswoman said the failure to disclose the full amount was discovered when reviewing the party’s election summary return.

“ECQ’s proactive compliance program identified discrepancies between the state campaign account statement and disclosed electoral expenditures,” the spokeswoman said in response to questions from this masthead.

“The ECQ has an active compliance program which includes monitoring for compliance with electoral regulations and responding to regulatory complaints. The ECQ does not comment on specific compliance matters or timelines which may or may not be under way.”

A One Nation spokesman refused to provide a comment when contacted by this masthead, citing a boycott in response to previous coverage.

The resurgent right-wing populist party’s finances and donations have faced widespread scrutiny as Hanson asks voters to trust her with the nation’s economy in leading the government.

This masthead revealed last week the party publicly reported racking up $400,000 in debts to its leader and financial backer Pauline Hanson over the past decade without corresponding records to show she had lent the money in the first place.

Hanson, who used party funds to pay for luxury accommodation on a recent trip to Europe, remains an official representative dealing with Queensland and Australian electoral watchdogs, an uncommon position for a party leader.

Years of overdue financial accounts filed by an entity called One Nation Queensland Division Inc last month suggest it operates far beyond the borders of the Sunshine State. It has received millions of dollars in merchandise sales, donations and electoral funding, including federal funding.

Despite the “Queensland” in its name, the party calls it “the national division”.

This masthead also revealed the Australian Electoral Commission is examining whether a number of business entities, either directed or part-owned by Hanson, should have been registered as official associated entities of the party.

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