One Nation volunteer linked to tribunal findings on neo-Nazi ideology

A man who volunteered for One Nation during the Secret Harbour by-election was previously named in an Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruling concerning racist and neo-Nazi ideologies. One Nation said he was not a party member and that people with extremist views would not be allowed to continue associating with it.

A man who volunteered for One Nation during the party’s successful West Australian by-election was previously identified in an Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruling involving the promotion of racist and neo-Nazi ideologies, according to ABC News. David Donis handed out the party’s how-to-vote cards at a polling station and was later seen near the stage at One Nation’s victory event.

The tribunal findings about Donis were made in 2023 in a case concerning an army reservist’s security clearance. The AAT accepted evidence that Donis was a founding member and president of the Society of Western Australian Nationalists, or SWAN, which it described as a “nationalist and racist extremist group”. The tribunal said it was satisfied that Donis and other SWAN members adhered to and promoted racist and neo-Nazi ideologies and supported politically motivated and communal violence. Donis has denied promoting those ideologies.

Two people told ABC News that Donis yelled at a voter leaving Singleton Primary School during polling, prompting other volunteers to intervene. One witness said Donis asked a mother and daughter whether they had placed One Nation first and Labor last on their ballot. After the woman indicated she was more likely to put One Nation last, the witness said Donis accused her of supporting abortion and setting a bad example for her daughter.

A One Nation spokesperson said the man identified as Donis was “not a member of One Nation”. The spokesperson said the party did not condone extremist views and acted swiftly when such issues were identified. ABC News reported that Donis was understood to have been a volunteer rather than a formal member and would not be permitted to continue associating with the party.

The incident has renewed questions about One Nation’s vetting processes. Party leader Pauline Hanson previously said four branches had been closed because of extremist infiltration. WA leader Rod Caddies said that if an extremist had managed to enter One Nation while concealing their views, the person would be expelled. A senior West Australian Liberal told ABC News that background checks should identify verifiable links to neo-Nazi or white supremacist groups and organisations advocating political violence.