One Nation Faces Being Struck Off in Queensland Over Finances 2026

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party faces being struck off in Queensland after failing its legal obligation to lodge audited financial statements with the state's regulator. This breach exposes Hanson and New South Wales One Nation Senator Sean Bell to financial penalties, with Hanson registered as president and Bell as secretary for the party in Queensland, where it is headquartered.

One Nation, which has been facing growing scrutiny of its finances as it surged in popularity over the past year, has failed to lodge three years of audited financial reports. Guardian Australia revealed last month that the party repeatedly missed legal requirements for running an incorporated association in Queensland, including failing to hold annual general meetings on time and repeatedly filing annual and financial reports late.

Missing or Worthless Assets Exceed $1 Million

The returns filed up until 2022 also revealed more than $1 million in missing or worthless assets that the party has refused to explain, prompting criticism of its “sloppy” accounting methods. In June, Queensland’s Office of Fair Trading requested compliance with obligations to file the last three years of annual returns.

Since then, One Nation lodged overdue annual returns on 3 July 2024, but those returns did not include proper financial statements as required under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981. A spokesperson for the regulator confirmed, “One Nation Queensland Division Inc has lodged its annual returns to the OFT for the years 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, but these returns did not include the audited financial statements as required by the Act.”

Deadline and Consequences

The Office of Fair Trading has given One Nation until 18 August 2026 to lodge the outstanding financial statements. Failure to meet this deadline will trigger an investigation, which may lead to enforcement action, including infringement notices or a “show cause” process that could ultimately result in the party being struck off in Queensland.

Comparison of Filing Timeline

Key Takeaways

• One Nation faces potential strike-off in Queensland for failing to submit audited financial statements.
• Over $1 million in assets remain unexplained, raising concerns about financial transparency.
• The party has until August 2026 to comply or face regulatory investigation and enforcement.
• Penalties could apply to party leaders Pauline Hanson and Sean Bell individually.

FAQ

This ongoing saga underscores the importance of financial compliance for political parties in Australia. As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on how One Nation responds to the regulator’s demands and whether it can avoid being struck off in Queensland.