A New Direction for One Nation in New South Wales
One Nation has officially appointed investment banker Mike Newman as its leader in New South Wales, marking a strategic shift for the party ahead of the March 2027 state election. The announcement, made by federal party leader Pauline Hanson alongside Newman and federal MP Barnaby Joyce, positions the former trade bureaucrat as the party’s primary candidate for the Hunter seat of Cessnock.
Newman, who spent the last 25 years living and working in Japan—including a tenure as Investment NSW’s senior trade and investment commissioner in Tokyo—brings a background centered on international investment and trade. His appointment is part of a broader effort by One Nation to leverage surging regional support, where polling in June suggested a primary vote of 37% outside the Sydney metropolitan area.
This report draws on information published by The Guardian.
Policy Platform: Energy and Economic Deregulation
Newman’s platform centers on a “business-first” agenda, with a specific focus on energy market reform. He has explicitly called for the reversal of bans on uranium mining and advocated for the inclusion of both coal and nuclear power in the state’s energy mix. Describing current government plans to close the Eraring coal-fired power station as “economic suicide,” Newman argues that NSW should emulate the energy models of Texas and Florida to drive down costs for businesses.
The party has also pledged to abandon the state’s current Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), with Barnaby Joyce declaring that they should be “dead and buried.” Beyond energy, Newman’s economic policy includes a proposal to cut payroll tax by 50%—and eliminate it entirely in regional areas—alongside a freeze on public service growth. He has proposed implementing “private sector-style” key performance indicators (KPIs) for senior executives, suggesting that government performance should be directly tied to infrastructure delivery targets.
Controversy and Local Representation
The transition to local politics has not been without scrutiny. Newman faced questioning regarding his residency, as he continues to maintain strong ties to his career in Japan. While he confirmed he is “living in the region,” he avoided direct answers when pressed on whether he has fully relocated to the electorate of Cessnock. The seat has been a Labor stronghold for nearly four decades, though the party faces pressure from One Nation’s rising popularity in the region.
Furthermore, Newman’s entry into the political sphere has drawn attention to his party’s controversial history. When asked about Pauline Hanson’s past rhetoric regarding Asian migration, Newman defended his decision to join the party by highlighting his multicultural business partnerships and his marriage to a Japanese national, asserting that he would not support an organization he deemed racist.
The Path to 2027
The state government, led by Premier Chris Minns, views the Hunter region as a critical battleground. The government’s recent efforts to secure local manufacturing jobs, including a $2.5 billion deal to stabilize the Tomago aluminium smelter, are being positioned against One Nation’s alternative proposals. Newman has criticized these government interventions, arguing that foreign investment and international partnerships could build critical infrastructure more efficiently than current state-led initiatives.
As the campaign progresses, the effectiveness of One Nation’s strategy will likely depend on whether Newman can successfully bridge the gap between his international corporate background and the specific economic concerns of regional voters in the Hunter.