One Nation Victoria has disendorsed its candidate for the seat of Preston, Franco Guardiani, after a now-deleted social media post in which he described Adolf Hitler as the “GOAT”, an acronym for greatest of all time, along with Islamophobic comments.
Guardiani’s X account also contained several Islamophobic statements, including references to bulldozing or setting fire to mosques, and engagement with posts by the anti-immigrant group Knights Templar International. In February, the account agreed with a suggestion that Australian police should be able to “remove Islamists who pray in public”.
The party became aware of the posts on Tuesday morning, and its Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, said it acted as soon as it became aware. “At a time when Jewish Australians are experiencing unprecedented persecution, we are appalled that these comments have been made,” Pickering said. “As soon as we became aware, we acted. Preston candidate Franco Guardiani is no longer part of our party. Anyone who holds such views is on notice: they do not have a place in One Nation.”
Guardiani confirmed the posts were his when contacted by Guardian Australia. “I understand where One Nation is going and I still stand by them,” he said. “I mean, with all the crap that’s going on, I can understand their position. I am a bit disappointed of course, but it’s a fair call by them.” He added that he believed in free speech and that people should be able to express their views.
Labor MP for Preston and Reservoir, Nathan Lambert, had called on One Nation to disendorse Guardiani on Tuesday morning. “Of course, there is a place in Victorian politics for traditional conservative concerns about community safety, government expenditure,” Lambert said. “But there is no place for the horrific ideology of the Nazi Party.”
The incident raises questions about the party’s candidate vetting process. In Victoria, One Nation candidates must provide their personal social media accounts for vetting and are interviewed by a three-person selection panel including Pickering and two party officials. The party has disendorsed its candidate for the seat of Melbourne, Matthew Collins, over now-deleted comments on social media.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The disendorsement highlights gaps in One Nation’s candidate vetting process, despite claimed improvements, raising concerns about the party’s ability to prevent extremist views from appearing on its ticket.
- The comments target Jewish and Muslim communities in Victoria at a time of heightened antisemitism and Islamophobia, potentially inflaming community tensions during an election campaign.
- The episode could affect One Nation’s electoral prospects in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, where the party has been hoping to gain seats from Labor.
Background
One Nation has previously disendorsed a candidate for another Victorian seat, Matthew Collins, over offensive social media comments. The party claims to have invested time and money into improving its candidate vetting process, which currently requires candidates to provide personal social media accounts and sit before a three-person selection panel. The Victorian state election is approaching, with One Nation targeting Labor-held seats in Melbourne’s heartland.
Key Perspectives
Warren Pickering (One Nation Victorian leader): Said the party was “appalled” by the comments and acted as soon as it became aware. “Anyone who holds such views is on notice: they do not have a place in One Nation.”
Franco Guardiani (former candidate): Said he understood the party’s decision and still stands by One Nation, but expressed disappointment and defended free speech.
Nathan Lambert (Labor MP): Argued there is “no place for the horrific ideology of the Nazi Party” in Victorian politics.
What to Watch
- Whether Guardiani runs as an independent or for another party, and whether his views continue to surface in the campaign.
- Any further revelations about other One Nation candidates’ social media histories and whether the party tightens its vetting further.
- Impact on One Nation’s polling in seats like Preston and nearby electorates where the party has been gaining ground.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedOne Nation Victoria disendorsed Preston candidate Franco Guardiani after he described Hitler as “GOAT”.World news | The Guardian: “One Nation Victoria has disendorsed a candidate whose private social media account described Adolf Hitler as the “GOAT””
- SupportedThe now-deleted post described Adolf Hitler as “GOAT,” alongside other Islamophobic comments.World news | The Guardian: “In a now-deleted social media post, the party’s candidate for Preston, Franco Guardiani, commented on a social media post on X asking people to: “Describe Hitler in one word? Be brutally honest.” Guardiani then replied with the acronym GOAT”
- SupportedGuardiani confirmed to Guardian Australia that the posts were his.World news | The Guardian: “Guardiani confirmed the posts were his when contacted by Guardian Australia.”
- SupportedGuardiani’s X account included comments referring to bulldozing or setting fire to mosques and engaged with posts by Knights Templar International.World news | The Guardian: “The former candidate’s X account contains several Islamophobic comments including references to bulldozing or setting fire to mosques. The account has also engaged with posts by the anti-immigrant group Knights Templar International .”
- SupportedIn February, the account agreed with a post asking whether police should be able to “remove Islamists who pray in public”.World news | The Guardian: “In February, the account agreed with a post asking if Australian police should be able to “remove Islamists who pray in public”.”
- SupportedPickering said One Nation was appalled by the comments because Jewish Australians were experiencing unprecedented persecution.World news | The Guardian: ““At a time when Jewish Australians are experiencing unprecedented persecution, we are appalled that these comments have been made,” said the party’s Victorian leader, Warren Pickering.”
- SupportedPickering said the party acted as soon as it became aware and that Guardiani was no longer part of it.World news | The Guardian: ““As soon as we became aware, we acted. Preston candidate Franco Guardiani is no longer part of our party.””
- SupportedGuardiani said, “I understand where One Nation is going and I still stand by them.”World news | The Guardian: ““I understand where One Nation is going and I still stand by them,” Guardiani said.”
- SupportedGuardiani said he understood the party’s position, was disappointed, but thought its decision was fair.World news | The Guardian: ““I mean, with all the crap that’s going on, I can understand their position. I am a bit disappointed of course, but it’s a fair call by them.””
- SupportedGuardiani said he believed in free speech and that people should be able to express their views.World news | The Guardian: ““I just believe in free speech and I think people should always be able to express their views.””
- SupportedLambert called on One Nation to disendorse Guardiani on Tuesday morning and said there was no place for Nazi ideology in Victorian politics.World news | The Guardian: “On Tuesday morning, the Labor MP for Preston and Reservoir, Nathan Lambert, called on One Nation to disendorse Guardiani. “Of course, there is a place in Victorian politics for traditional conservative concerns about community safety, government expenditure,” Lambert said. “But there is no place for the horrific ideology of the Nazi Party.””
- SupportedOne Nation candidates in Victoria must provide personal social media accounts for vetting and are interviewed by a three-person panel including Pickering and two party officials.World news | The Guardian: “In Victoria, One Nation candidates must provide their personal social media accounts for vetting. They are also interviewed by a three person selection panel including Pickering and two party officials.”