One Nation demands judge sackings amid Victorian election push

One Nation has placed the judiciary directly on notice while ramping up pressure on the state opposition ahead of the upcoming Victorian election, setting up a contentious electoral battleground. The development comes as the minor party navigates a critical junction between maintaining its traditional identity as a protest movement and attempting to forge a viable path toward government influence. That tension has been examined in Crikey reporting on the party's strategic pivot, highlighting questions over whether the organisation will carry on as a movement of pure protest or feel the temptation of power to become something more ordinary.

Federal One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson used a Melbourne radio appearance on Tuesday on station 3AW to target what she described as lenient sentencing practices. According to coverage by the Standard, Senator Hanson argued that judges who hand down decisions failing to match community expectations should face dismissal. She advocated for the establishment of an independent board tasked with scrutinising judicial performance and administering potential sackings, alongside the implementation of strict mandatory sentencing rules to ensure punishment meted out by judges aligns with community expectations.

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The hardline stance on law and order was reinforced by the recently appointed Victorian One Nation Leader, Warren Pickering, who joined Senator Hanson in the radio booth. Mr Pickering singled out recidivism and what he termed a tag-and-release program, contending that ordinary citizens are left vulnerable by existing legal frameworks. While detailed policy documents are yet to be released, Mr Pickering urged voters to reserve judgement until comprehensive plans are officially published.

The aggressive policy push coincides with broader questions over how the party intends to wield its numbers if it secures crossbench representation. Senator Hanson directed sharp criticism at Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, demanding that the state Liberal leader drop what she termed arrogance regarding potential post-election arrangements. While Ms Wilson has previously ruled out forming any formal alliance, maintaining a focus on achieving an outright majority to unseat the incumbent Labor administration, Senator Hanson left the door open to combining numbers in the lower house should a hung parliament eventuate.

The Liberal-Nationals need a net gain of 16 seats in the 88-seat lower house to form a majority government and end 12 straight years of Labor rule in the state. Speaking on radio, Senator Hanson addressed the possibility of crossbench co-operation:

"If they have a certain number of elected members and we have a certain number of elected members, will we join our numbers to actually make sure we can form a government to get rid of the Labor government? (We are) quite willing to talk, by all means ... get rid of the arrogance, Jess."

Pauline Hanson, Federal One Nation Leader, via The Standard

Electoral analysts suggest the path forward for the minor party contains substantial hurdles. Election analyst Kevin Bonham noted that primary-vote support for One Nation in Victoria has fallen to the low 20s in recent polls but it remains the third main choice behind the coalition and Labor. Mr Bonham observed that the party's sluggish timeline in rolling out candidate announcements and leadership details has hindered momentum, with some members of the electorate beginning to perceive the campaign as a sideshow in an election driven by a strong public mood to throw the government out. While lower-house pickups remain a possibility, Mr Bonham stated that the party's best prospects lie in the upper house.

Controversy has also surrounded One Nation's media strategy on the campaign trail. Senator Hanson defended decisions to bar specific mainstream outlets—including the ABC, The Age and The Guardian—from press events, such as a Monday morning press conference announcing Mr Pickering's leadership alongside seven other candidates, and a candidate meet-and-function in Hawthorn that drew street protests, a heavy police presence, and the shutdown of nearby streets. According to Crikey reporting, these outlets found themselves in trouble with Senator Hanson because they insisted on applying usual standards of questioning and accountability. Speaking on radio, Senator Hanson indicated it was a temporary measure and she would encourage "fair reporting".

Key Developments in the Victorian Campaign

• Federal Leader Pauline Hanson called for an independent board to hold judges accountable and enable sackings for inadequate sentencing.
• State Leader Warren Pickering pledged to overhaul crime policies and eliminate revolving-door measures for repeat offenders.
• Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson faced demands from One Nation to drop her refusal to consider post-election numerical alignments.
• Analyst Kevin Bonham highlighted cooling primary-vote polling and delayed candidate rollouts as challenges for the minor party.

As the political parties gear up for the November ballot, voters will be watching to see how the minor party translates its broad protest appeals into concrete legislative proposals and whether its strategic pivot toward government influence can withstand electoral realities.