One Nation's Donation Scandal in Victoria's Byelection

0:00One nation's facing heat in Victoria's NEPI in bi-election after their state president, Warren Pickering, told Candidate Darren Herkiss to take campaign, donations into a personal bank account. That's a potential violation of electoral rules that demand all funds go into an official state campaign account registered with the Victorian. Electoral Commission for Full Audits and Transparency The drama ties into a recent high court ruling that wiped out key parts of Victoria's Electoral Act, including donation caps and spending limits. Because they favored major parties like labor and liberals. Now there's a legal gap with no oversight on political cash until new laws kick in. And Premier Jacinta Allen says changes will apply retroactively. From that court date, former one nation members who joined the local campaign committee blew the whistle after hearing Pickering push the personal account idea on a speaker phone call. They questioned it hard, Warren Herkiss, then quit the party within days.

1:00Three out of seven on that committee bailed, calling the whole set of shady. Herkiss claims he doesn't handle the donations himself, has no details on any accounts, and is just charging most expenses to his personal mastercard. Pickering insists it's how Candidate's role, with receipts reconciled later, but experts like integrity chair Anthony Wheely stress official accounts. Are vital for tracking who funds what? Victoria is racing to fix these laws before November's state election, with opposition backing the push to block dark money and restore voter trust in the system. Sydney News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters. I'm Corey with the story.