One Nation has announced four candidates for the New South Wales upper house for the March state election, including Katherine Deves, a former federal Liberal candidate and anti-trans campaigner who sparked controversy in 2022.
The candidates were unveiled on Sunday by One Nation NSW leader Mike Newman, who said the group was "not a team of career politicians". Alongside Deves, a Sydney lawyer, are Arnon Wither from the Hunter region, educator Manti Steele from western NSW, and teacher and surf lifesaver Daniel Hill from the South Coast. They join Stuart Bonds, a Singleton cattle farmer and coal miner who is the party's top upper house candidate, and Tamworth firearms manufacturer Jeff Bacon.
Deves was the Liberal Party's candidate for the federal seat of Warringah at the 2022 election. Her candidacy prompted a firestorm of criticism, and she issued a series of apologies over social media posts, including one in which she compared her anti-trans activism to resistance against the Nazis. Bonds told a rally against "mass migration" this month that Australians were "being demographically replaced inside our own nation", remarks Premier Chris Minns described as "horrific".
One Nation is a growing threat to Labor in the upcoming election, with recent Resolve polling showing 25 per cent of NSW voters intend to vote for the party. However, a Resolve Political Monitor survey last week found voters perceived Minns and Labor as superior to the Coalition or One Nation on managing hospitals and health services, education and housing.
The announced line-up does not include former Coalition figures such as former federal Liberal senator Hollie Hughes, former NSW upper house Liberal MP Lou Amato, and former Wollondilly Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith. They could also run for a spot in the lower house.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The March election could reshape NSW politics with One Nation potentially winning seats in the upper house.
- Voter sentiment shows significant support for One Nation, challenging both Labor and the Coalition.
- Controversial candidates may energise or alienate voters, affecting the party's overall campaign.
Background
One Nation is a growing force in NSW politics ahead of the March 2027 state election, with recent polling indicating about a quarter of voters intend to vote for it. The party has announced a slate of upper house candidates including figures with controversial backgrounds.
Key Perspectives
One Nation NSW leader Mike Newman: says the candidates have "real-world experience" and are not career politicians.
NSW Premier Chris Minns: described Stuart Bonds' comments about demographic replacement as "horrific".
What to Watch
- How the controversies around Deves and Bonds affect One Nation's campaign momentum.
- Whether One Nation will field lower house candidates beyond the upper house.
- The outcome of the March 2027 election and the potential for One Nation to hold balance of power.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedOne Nation has revealed four upper-house candidates for the NSW election, including Katherine Deves.The Age - Latest News: “One Nation NSW leader Mike Newman on Sunday announced four new upper house candidates for the state poll”
- SupportedThe party leader says the team reflects its membership.The Age - Latest News: ““This is a team that reflects our membership ... They are not taxpayer-funded political careerists or cookie-cutter candidates,” Newman said.”
- SupportedNewman said the group was “not a team of career politicians”.The Age - Latest News: “said the group was “not a team of career politicians”.”
- SupportedOne Nation announced four candidates for the March state election.The Age - Latest News: “One Nation’s latest upper house candidate Katherine Deves speaks to the media on Sunday.”
- SupportedKatherine Deves was the Liberal Party candidate for Warringah at the 2022 election.The Age - Latest News: “Deves ... was the Liberal Party’s pick to take on Warringah MP Zali Steggall at the 2022 election.”
- SupportedDeves’s candidacy prompted a firestorm of criticism, and she apologised over social media posts, including one comparing her anti-trans activism to resistance against the Nazis.The Age - Latest News: “Her candidacy prompted a firestorm of criticism, and she issued a series of apologies over social media posts including one in which she compared her anti-trans activism to resistance against the Nazis.”
- SupportedThe other announced candidates are Arnon Wither, Manti Steele and Daniel Hill, with the roles and regions stated in the story.The Age - Latest News: “Arnon Wither from the Hunter region, who has worked in manufacturing, construction; educator and mother-of-eight Manti Steele from western NSW; and teacher and surf lifesaver Daniel Hill from the NSW South Coast.”
- SupportedStuart Bonds is the party’s top upper-house candidate in NSW, a Singleton cattle farmer and coal miner.The Age - Latest News: “The four will join controversial Singleton cattle farmer and coal miner Stuart Bonds, who is the top upper house candidate for the party in NSW”
- SupportedBonds told a rally against “mass migration” that Australians were “being demographically replaced inside our own nation”.The Age - Latest News: “Bonds told protesters at a rally against “mass migration” this month that Australians were “being demographically replaced inside our own nation””
- SupportedChris Minns described Bonds’s remarks as “horrific”.The Age - Latest News: “remarks Premier Chris Minns described as “horrific”.”
- SupportedRecent Resolve polling shows 25 per cent of NSW voters intend to vote for One Nation in March.The Age - Latest News: “Recent Resolve polling shows 25 per cent of NSW voters intend to vote for One Nation in March.”
- SupportedA Resolve Political Monitor survey last week found voters perceived Minns and Labor as superior to the Coalition or One Nation on managing hospitals and health services, education and housing.The Age - Latest News: “last week’s Resolve Political Monitor survey revealed voters perceived Minns and Labor as superior to the Coalition or One Nation on managing hospitals and health services, the education system and housing.”