One Nation, a political party in Australia, may collect up to $633,000 from individuals who expressed interest in running in the upcoming Victorian state election. Some potential candidates have raised concerns about whether the party is prioritizing fundraising over genuine political engagement. The Guardian Australia has spoken to several former local government officials who said they were asked to pay a "non-refundable application fee" of $150 to be considered as candidates. They were later rejected, and some claimed the process felt like a "pay-to-play" system. Invoices obtained by the newspaper show that the party collected this fee from applicants, and if all those who reached the final stage paid, the amount could be around $33,000. In addition to the application fee, candidates were required to be members of the party, which would add an extra $72,000 in membership fees. Those who were preselected were also told they would need to pay $5,500 of their own money to run in the election, even though most lower house seats are not considered winnable. This fee could bring in an additional $528,000, based on 88 lower house and eight upper house candidates. In total, the amount collected from candidates could reach as high as $633,000. This contrasts with major parties, which typically do not charge candidates for campaign expenses. Aidan McLindon, a political consultant who worked with One Nation in Victoria last year, criticized the process as a "money-spinning exercise" in an interview for episode three of The Populist, released on Monday. He said the party seemed to be focusing more on financial gain than on policy. One Nation is also expected to receive up to $10 million through Victoria's public electoral funding scheme, based on its polling numbers. Applicants questioned whether the selection process was genuine, noting that the party conducted 15-minute video interviews with each candidate before making a decision. Candidates were required to sign non-disclosure agreements about the process. Concerns were raised that upper house candidates were chosen by the party's state leader, Warren Pickering, rather than being selected based on merit. A complaint letter from a former Victorian mayor criticized the process, saying it made candidates feel "used, lied to, misled, and gaslit." The letter argued that the process was designed to create the appearance of a fair selection while concealing pre-determined decisions. Some applicants described the process as a "cash grab," saying the $5,500 fee was too high for everyday people. One candidate questioned whether the money was being used to fundraise for the federal election rather than the state election. Another applicant noted that the party's constitution allows for all funds to be transferred to its Brisbane headquarters. A spokesperson for One Nation defended the fees, stating they were necessary for background checks and were in line with standard practices across Australian political parties.