One Nation is under fire following reports that the party could collect up to $633,000 from individuals seeking to run as candidates in the upcoming Victorian state election. Several individuals, including former councillors and mayors, have publicly criticized the party’s application process, describing it as a 'pay-to-play' system. According to documents reviewed by The Guardian, prospective candidates were required to pay a $150 non-refundable application fee to be considered for selection.

Multiple applicants who were ultimately rejected by the party have voiced concerns regarding the transparency and intent of these fees. These individuals suggest that the financial requirement, when applied to a large pool of hopefuls, creates a significant revenue stream for the party that does not necessarily correlate with a genuine candidate selection process. While the party has not yet provided a formal public response to these specific allegations, the situation has sparked a debate about the ethics of charging fees to potential political representatives before they are vetted or selected.

The controversy centers on whether the fee is a standard administrative cost or a predatory financial practice. Critics argue that the high number of applicants, combined with the non-refundable nature of the payment, raises questions about whether the party is prioritizing fundraising over the democratic process of selecting qualified candidates. As of now, the party has not clarified how the funds collected from these application fees are utilized or if there are caps on the total amount generated through this process.