The activist group GetUp will spend at least $600,000 [1] to prevent Pauline Hanson's One Nation party from winning seats in Victoria.
The campaign targets specific electoral districts to stop the right-wing party from gaining a foothold in the state legislature. If successful, One Nation could potentially hold the balance of power following the election.
GetUp intends to focus its resources on Labor-held seats located in the south-east of Melbourne [1], [2]. The group is reacting to a perceived surge in support for One Nation as the party attempts to expand its influence in the region.
Caleb Bond, a host for News24, disclosed the details of the spending plan. Bond said the group has raised approximately $2 million [2] over the last two months.
"Now that they’ve raised this alleged $2 million over the last two months, they’ve decided they want to go and spend $600,000 of it on the Victorian state election," Bond said [2].
The spending comes as the state prepares for the Victorian state election scheduled for November 2026 [1], [2]. The strategic allocation of funds suggests a targeted effort to protect current Labor incumbents from a right-wing challenge.
Bond said that the party has been attempting to regain momentum in recent months. "They’ve been trying to make a comeback," Bond said [2].
GetUp's decision to deploy a significant portion of its recent fundraising haul highlights the group's priority to limit One Nation's legislative reach. The effort focuses on preventing the party from seizing a string of seats that could disrupt the current political alignment in Victoria [1], [2].
“GetUp will spend at least $600,000 to prevent Pauline Hanson's One Nation party from winning seats in Victoria.”
The targeted spending by GetUp indicates a strategic shift toward preventing minor party spoilers from holding the balance of power in the Victorian Parliament. By focusing on Melbourne's south-east, the group is attempting to insulate Labor-held seats from a populist surge that could force the winning government into a coalition or confidence-and-supply agreement with One Nation.
