Alleged underworld supporters and unfounded health claims: One Nation rolls out more Victorian election candidates

One Nation has used social media to reveal a line-up of candidates, with 51 of the 88 lower house spots now filled. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP View image in fullscreen One Nation has used social media to reveal a line-up of candidates, with 51 of the 88 lower house spots now filled. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP Alleged underworld supporters and unfounded health claims: One Nation rolls out more Victorian election candidates Party has unveiled a steady stream of contenders for state election, including a former councillor who lost his licence for drink-driving Get our new political email, free app or daily news podcast Candidates contesting the Victorian state election for One Nation include a former Liberal who has won support from alleged underworld figures, a naturopath who has endorsed Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that paracetamol is linked to autism and a former shire councillor who lost his licence for drink-driving. Pauline Hanson announced who would be her party’s upper house candidates and Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, at a press conference last month. Since then One Nation has used social media to unveil a steady stream of candidates, with 51 of the 88 lower house spots now filled. Among them is Michael Piastrino, who launched his campaign on Sunday for the outer-suburban seat of Berwick, held a 4.7% margin. View image in fullscreen A selfie from Michael Piastrino’s Instagram account that shows Malaki Salesui standing behind himThe launch was attended , who was convicted in 2021 for his role in an organised car-theft ring. Mick Mantzaris commented on photographs of the event on Instagram, writing: “great day great people” and “time for a change”. Mantzaris pleaded guilty in 2012 to possessing testosterone, disclosing restricted information and misleading the office of police integrity. The following year he was targeted in a drive-by shooting. Police described him at the time as “an associate of some outlaw motorcycle gang members”. Anthony Younan, the nephew of the slain underworld figure Nabil Maghnie, also commented on Piastrino’s Instagram posts, saying he would vote for One Nation because of him: “I can’t believe I am going to vote for a red headed woman who hate Arabs. My mother is going to disown me Michael. But I am doing this for you bro!” View image in fullscreen Anthony Younan’s comment on a Piastrino postPiastrino, a hairdresser, ran for the Liberals at the 2022 election. He was forced to apologise during that campaign after declaring that Daniel Andrews would be “brought to justice for the murder of 800 people” under a Liberal government.