Ex-Liberal Figure Spearheads One Nation Candidate Vetting Overhaul

Mark Jones, a former moderate Liberal figure who three years ago was nearly appointed state director for the New South Wales Liberal branch, has transitioned to driving One Nation’s political expansion. Following his departure from the Liberal party in January, Jones was hired as a political consultant by One Nation in February. Internal party materials indicate he now performs administrative duties for One Nation’s election campaigns similar to those required in his former party, where multiple Liberal insiders previously confirmed he made the final three candidates for the powerful state director role before his promotion was halted.

Working alongside former Queensland National party executive Susie Douglas—who previously spent a brief period with the Palmer United Party before resigning and labeling it a cult—Jones has redesigned One Nation’s vetting and candidate selection procedures and participated in candidate interviews.

Despite these structural changes, One Nation has still endorsed multiple state candidates holding contentious backgrounds. Among them are a former shire councillor who lost his driving licence for drink-driving, a former Liberal backed by alleged underworld figures, and a naturopath who promoted Donald Trump’s unverified assertion connecting paracetamol to autism. Furthermore, Matthew Collins, the party’s candidate for Melbourne, stepped down and issued an apology on Sunday regarding offensive, deleted social media posts touching on pornographic jokes and sexual consent, which a spokesperson for the party condemned.

Media revelations indicate One Nation revamped its selection framework in New South Wales following member backlash in Victoria concerning delayed decisions and insufficient internal democracy. Victorian hopefuls participating in brief online interviews with Jones and Douglas were taken aback when state leader Warren Pickering joined the sessions. Internal paperwork identified the trio as a selection committee, with final endorsement choices following credit and police screenings.

Conversely, the New South Wales process now features 20 to 30 minute virtual interviews administered solely by Jones and Douglas. The pair subsequently submits recommendations to a separate three-person selection committee comprising NSW leader Mike Newman, state president Rebecca Thompson, and state secretary Sam Donovan.

Documentation reviewed by media outlets reveals these digital discussions evaluate contenders on their understanding of the parliamentary framework, views on the state’s future direction, and potential contributions to a future administration. Candidates are instructed in writing to address every topic and maintain strict confidentiality regarding their participation, explicitly directed not to publicize their involvement during this phase of the process. In Victoria, the initial screening step previously involved completing an extensive 25-page questionnaire.

Sources: The Guardian World

Aggregated summary. Original: The Guardian World