Matthew Collins Resigns As One Nation Melbourne Candidate
Matthew Collins, One Nation’s candidate for the inner-city Melbourne seat, resigned and apologized after resurfaced social media posts revealed he had dismissed sexual consent as unnecessary and made vulgar online remarks just four weeks before the Victorian state election.
Social Media Posts Spark Immediate Resignation
The 35-year-old candidate withdrew from the race in the Greens-held electorate after historical posts from his X account came to light. In a February 2020 post cited by The Age, Collins stated that he had never asked any woman for consent, claiming it was implied by attraction levels and actions. Additional posts included pornographic jokes, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
Collins issued an apology through the party. “I am very sorry for the unacceptable comments that I made,” he said in a statement. “They are not reflective of who I am as a person now and I deeply regret ever having made them.”
Warren Pickering Defends Party Vetting Process
One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering addressed the controversy while speaking at an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne, describing the comments as “very vulgar” and “not in the public interest,” according to ABC News. Pickering defended the party’s vetting process for its 120 candidates, noting that opponents had spent weeks investigating social media histories and that the party lacked the resources for exhaustive six-month checks on every individual. Around 400 people marched from Flinders Street Station to the rally, where attendees yelled phrases such as: “Shut the gate, re-migrate.” There were also brief chants of “Australia for the white man,” a phrase associated with neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network.
A One Nation spokesperson confirmed the party accepted the resignation immediately, stating that the organization does not condone the remarks.
Political Fallout Across the Victorian Electorate
The sudden departure leaves One Nation without a contender in Melbourne as the campaign enters its final weeks. The timing restricts the party’s window to secure a replacement, with the Victorian Electoral Commission setting the hard deadline for candidate nominations at midday on November 9, 2026.
Rival political figures seized on the incident. Liberal Leader Jess Wilson condemned the remarks as “absolutely disgusting,” while Labor and Greens representatives argued the episode reflected broader party dynamics. A spokesperson for Labor stated that the posts were disgraceful and questioned whether the Liberals would work alongside people with such views, noting that One Nation wanted a deal with the Liberals and that Opposition Leader Jess Wilson had not ruled it out. Recent polling published by The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age places One Nation at 23 percent in the primary vote, positioning the party to disrupt the election. On the first day of election month, Labor promised more free dental clinics, the Coalition vowed to protect workers and empower police, and the Greens doorknocked in Richmond.
Candidate Background
“Well, I don’t believe he’s running as the candidate anymore, but they were absolutely disgusting comments. He should be condemned for it.” — Jess Wilson