# One Nation's troubled candidate lineup for Victoria

> The party has fielded candidates with links to underworld figures, debunked health claims, and controversial social media histories.
- Title: One Nation's troubled candidate lineup for Victoria | Shortify
- Summary: The party has fielded candidates with links to underworld figures, debunked health claims, and controversial social media histories. One Nation is running…
- Keywords: one nation, victoria, election, candidates, organised crime, underworld figures, health misinformation, social media, drink-driving, pauline hanson, michael piastrino, ben lucas
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/19/one-nation-victorian-election-candidates-michael-piastrino-elita-dabrowski-ben-lucas-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-09-18T15:00:23+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: one nation, victoria, election, candidates, organised crime, underworld figures, health misinformation, social media, drink-driving, pauline hanson, michael piastrino, ben lucas
## One Nation fills half its Victorian slate
The party has announced 51 of 88 lower house candidates for the state election, with leader Pauline Hanson revealing the upper house line-up last month.
## Hairdresser with underworld links runs for Berwick
Michael Piastrino, a former Liberal candidate, launched his campaign for the outer-suburban seat with attendees including a man convicted of running an organised car-theft ring.
## Alleged gang associate comments support
Mick Mantzaris, who pleaded guilty to drug possession and misleading police integrity investigators, commented positively on Piastrino's Instagram posts.

> great day great people
## Slain figure's nephew backs Piastrino
Anthony Younan, nephew of murdered underworld figure Nabil Maghnie, commented on Piastrino's posts saying he would vote One Nation because of him.

> I can't believe I am going to vote for a red headed woman who hate Arabs.
## Piastrino says he met them through church
When asked about his connections to people with criminal histories, Piastrino told local media he met them through church and said he was not there to judge people.

> I'm not here to judge people. I'm here to help people.
## Drink-driver runs for Narracan seat
Ben Lucas, One Nation's candidate for the Liberal-held seat of Narracan, was convicted of drink-driving and dangerous driving in 2021 and had his licence suspended for two years.
## Naturopath promoted Trump's autism claim
Elita Dabrowski, One Nation's candidate for Sunbury, deleted a tweet backing Donald Trump's false claim that paracetamol is linked to autism in children.

> As a naturopath & functional health practitioner, I felt proud
## Candidate posts inflammatory comments online
Tammy Lindrum, One Nation's candidate for Albert Park, left comments on social media claiming there is "Black and Muslim supremacy in Australia" and questioning spending on First Nations people.

> Black and Muslim supremacy in Australia
## Party claims improved vetting process
One Nation says it has strengthened candidate vetting with more stringent background checks and technology that does deep dives into social media accounts.
## Party accepts candidates with controversial pasts
One Nation has shown willingness to accept candidates with serious issues, including its Victorian leader who acknowledged past drug use and drink-driving.
## Key takeaway

One Nation is running candidates with serious red flags including alleged organised crime connections, endorsement of false medical claims, and inflammatory comments about minorities.