Why it's trending
The sudden interest in Warren Pickering is driven by his announcement as One Nation's Victorian leader for the November election, combined with the media ban controversy involving Pauline Hanson. This follows Ben Carroll's successful challenge to Jacinta Allan for the Victorian Labor leadership, and Labor warnings that Victoria could see Australia's first Liberal-One Nation government.
One Nation has announced its Victorian state president Warren Pickering will lead the party into the upcoming Victorian state election, scheduled for November. At a media event on August 3, 2026, Pickering declared the party intends to govern in its own right, saying 'We don't see it. We can win in our own right.' He also called Victoria 'the most fiscally and morally bankrupt state in Australian history' and said the campaign was 'the biggest state campaign in the party's history.'
The announcement was overshadowed by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson barring the ABC, Guardian and The Age from the press conference, according to Nine.com.au. Guardian Australia confirms reporters from the ABC and The Age were refused entry and were not told the time or location in advance. Hanson said, 'I'm not putting up with their rubbish. I'm not putting up with their spin, their lies whatsoever.' She did not provide examples to back up her claims. There is a discrepancy in the number of candidates announced: ABC reports six new upper house candidates, Nine reports eight, and the Guardian says seven of eight were revealed.
The event follows a turbulent period in Victorian politics. Last week, Ben Carroll successfully challenged Jacinta Allan for the Labor leadership, and Carroll warned that 'Polling says Victoria is on track for Australia's first Liberal-One Nation government.' Some polls have shown One Nation attracting as much as a quarter of Victorian voters. Hanson had threatened in June to ban certain media outlets, and ABC journalists were removed from a Farrer by-election event earlier this year. Hanson also claimed she had denied ABC journalists access to her events for 'eight months' in 1996.
The media ban and Pickering's leadership signal a combative campaign ahead. The Guardian reports the candidate lineup includes a former Liberal, an 'anti-woke' film animator and a councillor who says he worked on Daniel Andrews' security team. One Nation has not yet released its state-based agenda, but Pickering said policies would be made clear 'within a month' with a focus on farmers, crime and corruption. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called Hanson 'a political coward' and said she was 'running scared of scrutiny.' With Labor vulnerable and One Nation polling strongly, the November election could reshape Victorian politics.
Timeline
- ABC journalists removed from Farrer by-election event
According to Nine.com.au, ABC journalists were removed from a Farrer by-election event earlier this year, part of a pattern of One Nation excluding certain media.
- Hanson threatens media ban
Nine.com.au reports Pauline Hanson threatened to ban media outlets, particularly the ABC and Guardian, from her future events.
- Ben Carroll becomes Victorian Labor leader
ABC reports former deputy premier Ben Carroll successfully challenged Jacinta Allan for the Labor Party leadership to take the state's top job.
- One Nation names Warren Pickering as Victorian leader
ABC reports One Nation announced Warren Pickering will lead the party into the November state election. At the same event, Hanson barred ABC, Guardian and The Age reporters. Guardian Australia reports reporters from ABC and The Age were refused entry.
Questions people ask
Who is Warren Pickering?
According to ABC, Warren Pickering is One Nation's Victorian state president, an army veteran and former Senate candidate. He will lead the party into the November state election and run for the lower house seat of Pakenham.
Why did Pauline Hanson ban the ABC and Guardian from the press conference?
Nine.com.au reports Hanson said the outlets were 'not putting up with their rubbish... their spin, their lies whatsoever.' Guardian Australia quotes her saying 'Democracy doesn't happen on the ABC at all.' She had threatened the ban in June and did not provide examples. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Hanson was 'running scared of scrutiny.'
Can One Nation win government in Victoria?
Pickering says One Nation can win in its own right and will not form a coalition with the Liberals. However, after becoming Labor leader, Ben Carroll said 'Polling says Victoria is on track for Australia's first Liberal-One Nation government.' ABC notes some polls show One Nation attracting as much as a quarter of Victorian voters.
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