Former NSW Liberal Mark Jones Overhauls One Nation Candidate Vetting 2026

Former NSW Liberal candidate Mark Jones is now leading a major overhaul of One Nation's candidate selection and vetting process, marking a significant shift in Australian political recruitment. Jones, who narrowly missed becoming the NSW Liberal state director in 2023, quit the Liberal Party in January and joined One Nation as a political consultant in February.

Internal One Nation documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal that Jones has become integral to the party's state election campaigns, performing administrative functions similar to those he once sought in the Liberal Party. His role includes redesigning candidate selection procedures and sitting in on interviews, assisted by former Queensland Nationals executive Susie Douglas.

Who Is Mark Jones and Why Does His Role Matter?

Mark Jones was once a young and ambitious Liberal moderate on the brink of securing one of the most powerful roles in the NSW Liberal Party: state director. Multiple Liberal sources confirm he was among the final three candidates for the position before his career advancement was ultimately blocked. That setback appears to have catalysed his departure from the party.

Now, Jones is using his extensive campaign and administrative experience to help One Nation professionalise its candidate recruitment. His involvement signals a broader effort by One Nation to present a more disciplined and electable front, even as it continues to endorse candidates with controversial backgrounds.

How One Nation's Candidate Selection Process Is Changing

Since joining One Nation, Jones has helped redesign the party's candidate selection and vetting process. He has sat in on interviews and worked to streamline administrative functions for state election campaigns. The changes aim to ensure candidates are properly scrutinised before endorsement.

However, the overhaul has not prevented One Nation from endorsing several state candidates with controversial backgrounds. These include a former Liberal who has won support from alleged underworld figures and a naturopath who has endorsed Donald Trump's unfounded claim that paracetamol is linked to autism. Such endorsements raise questions about the effectiveness of the new vetting process.

Key Takeaways from the One Nation Recruitment Shake-Up

• Mark Jones, a former NSW Liberal moderate, now plays a key role in One Nation's candidate selection.
• Jones quit the Liberal Party in January after being blocked from the state director role.
• He joined One Nation in February and has helped redesign vetting and interview processes.
• Former Queensland Nationals executive Susie Douglas assists Jones in his role.
• Despite the overhaul, One Nation has endorsed candidates with controversial backgrounds.

Comparing Liberal and One Nation Candidate Vetting

The table below contrasts the candidate selection processes of the NSW Liberal Party and One Nation, based on available information.

Why This Matters for Australian Politics

Jones's defection highlights ongoing tensions within the NSW Liberal Party, which has been embroiled in factional warfare and corruption inquiries. His move to One Nation could strengthen that party's electoral machinery, particularly in state campaigns where administrative efficiency is crucial.

At the same time, the continued endorsement of controversial candidates suggests that One Nation's vetting overhaul may be more about process than substance. Voters will be watching to see whether the party truly raises its standards or simply repackages the same risks.

What to Watch Next

As One Nation prepares for upcoming state elections, the effectiveness of Jones's vetting process will be tested. Will it prevent further controversial endorsements, or will political expediency override caution? The answers will shape the party's credibility and electoral fortunes.

For context on the turmoil within the NSW Liberal Party, see our coverage of ICAC allegations against a former NSW Liberal powerbroker. The party's internal conflicts have been extensively documented, including a corruption hearing that exposed branch stacking.

Factional disputes have also led to high-profile disendorsements, such as that of Moira Deeming as a Victorian Liberal candidate. These events underscore the challenges Jones faced before his departure.

The NSW Liberal Party's factionalism has been a recurring theme, with the Reformers faction facing scrutiny over a donation scandal. Comparisons to Braveheart have been made by Reformers, as reported in our article on NSW Liberal factionalism.

An ICAC probe into the Reformers further complicated the party's image, details of which can be found in our coverage of the ICAC probe into Reformers. Leak inquiries have also plagued the party, with Tudehope admitting to sending confidential information.

For a deeper look at the branch stacking revelations, see our report on the corruption hearing that revealed branch stacking. The internal strife is further explored in our article on the ICAC probe revealing warring factions.

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