Barnaby Joyce, leader of One Nation, said his party is "one of the gayest parties in Australia" during a radio interview on Wednesday [1].
The comment follows a public controversy involving a former party candidate, highlighting internal tensions regarding the party's stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
Joyce spoke during an interview on ABC's "Afternoon Briefing" programme in Sydney on 12 August 2026 [1]. He was responding to a social-media video posted by Parminder Singh, a former Western Australia candidate for the party [1, 2]. In the video, Singh described same-sex attraction as a mental illness [1].
Singh was ranked number three on One Nation's Legislative Council ticket during the 2025 election [3]. Joyce said that Singh's comments were offensive and needed to be condemned [1, 2].
An unnamed One Nation MP also weighed in on the matter, saying that the comments made by Singh are highly offensive [1]. The party leader's use of the term "gayest parties" served as a defense of the organization's broader identity in the wake of the video [1, 2].
One Nation has faced scrutiny over the vetting of its candidates and the alignment of its members' personal views with the party's official platform. This latest incident underscores the friction between the party's leadership and some of its regional representatives, a recurring theme in the party's recent history [1].
“"One Nation is one of the gayest parties in Australia."”
This incident reflects a strategic effort by Barnaby Joyce to distance the party leadership from extreme rhetoric that could alienate moderate voters. By framing One Nation as inclusive, Joyce attempts to neutralize the impact of Singh's comments and prevent the party from being defined solely by the views of its fringe candidates.
