One Nation’s Melbourne candidate steps down after offensive social‑media posts surface

Summary

One Nation candidate for the Victorian lower‑house seat of Melbourne, Matthew Collins, announced his resignation on 1 November 2026. The decision followed media reports that his past social‑media activity included highly sexualised remarks and anti‑Muslim rhetoric. Collins issued an apology, describing the posts as “unacceptable” and saying they do not reflect who he is today.

Confirmed facts

• Resignation – Collins formally withdrew his candidacy and the party accepted his resignation.
• Apology – In a statement released through the party, Collins said he was “very sorry” for the comments.
• Party response – One Nation Victoria said it does not condone the remarks and that it had been briefed on the matter.
• Election timeline – The Victorian state election is scheduled for 28 November 2026. Candidate nominations close on 9 November, leaving the party time to name a replacement.

Reported claims and context

• Content of the posts – Media outlets reported that the offending material ranged from sexualised jokes to anti‑Muslim statements. The exact wording has not been released publicly.
• Vetting limitations – One Nation leader Warren Pickering told reporters the party “does not have the resources to vet 120 candidates for six months,” suggesting the posts were uncovered only after they were already online.
• Political impact – The seat of Melbourne is currently held by Greens leader Ellen Sandell. Opposition leader Jess Wilson called the comments “absolutely disgusting” and said they should be condemned.

Reactions from other parties

• Greens – Ellen Sandell said the incident illustrated the broader tone of One Nation’s policies.
• Labor – A Labor spokesperson described the posts as “disgraceful” and asked whether the party’s leader Jess Wilson would be comfortable working with One Nation after the scandal.
• Public incidents – A hotel in western Victoria displaying One Nation election material was vandalised with anti‑One Nation graffiti, which the party condemned as “cowardly” and an attack on democracy.

Practical implications

• Candidate replacement – One Nation must select a new candidate before the 9 November nomination deadline. The party says it is already in the process of endorsing a replacement.
• Voter verification – Voters can check the Victorian Electoral Commission’s online candidate list to see who is officially standing in Melbourne.
• Party reputation – The episode may affect One Nation’s standing in a seat that is traditionally competitive, but the party argues it still has a chance despite the timing.

How to verify

• The Victorian Electoral Commission’s website publishes the final list of candidates after the nomination deadline.
• Official statements from One Nation and the quoted politicians are available on their respective press releases and social‑media channels.
• Media coverage from reputable Australian outlets (e.g., ABC News, The Age) provides additional context and copies of the reported posts where available.

--- *This article is based on publicly released statements and media reports; no original reporting was conducted.*