Former Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin has denied speculation that he is considering joining One Nation, telling The Australia Today he has “no interest” in leaving the Liberal Party for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

The denial comes after political chatter linked Battin to One Nation following claims he had travelled to Perth while Hanson was also in Western Australia.

Battin rejected the suggestion outright, saying he had not been to Perth for several years and there was no political meeting or discussion with One Nation.

Battin told The Australia Today,

“I have not been in Perth since 2022, and if in the near future I go there, it will be to have a good drink at a winery, not any political deal.”

He said journalists were entitled to speculate about political movements, but said the claim had gone too far.

“Journalists have all rights to speculate, but inaccurate to this level, no,” he said.

“I have no interest in joining One Nation.”

Rumours and speculations, as The Australia Today was given to understand that an event organiser approached Brad Battin to be the chief guest of their event, however, Battin declined by saying that he was travelling to Perth at the time.

These dates are the same as Pauline Hanson being in Perth.

That overlap helped fuel speculation at a time when One Nation is seeking to build support in outer-suburban and regional areas across Australia.

One insider told The Australia Today, Battin’s Perth travel was rescheduled to next week.

Now, if he visits a winery or two, or meets important leaders, is anyones guess.

The Liberal MP for Berwick and a former police officer, has been one of the Victorian Coalition’s most prominent voices on crime, youth justice and community safety. His policy focus has at times overlapped with issues One Nation has been campaigning on, including public safety, cost of living and frustration with the major parties.

Hanson’s party has been gaining national attention after a surge in polling and a high-profile fundraising campaign targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor-held seats.

But Battin’s comments make clear he is not part of any move to One Nation.

The former Victorian Opposition Leader has remained inside the Liberal Party after being replaced as leader by Jess Wilson last year. His seat of Berwick sits in Melbourne’s outer south-east, an area where cost-of-living pressure, crime and growth concerns are expected to shape voter sentiment ahead of the next state election.

Speculation about possible defections reflects the wider instability now facing both major parties, with One Nation trying to position itself as a voice for voters disillusioned with Labor, the Liberals and the Nationals.

However, Battin has dismissed any suggestion that he is preparing to join Hanson’s party, making clear that any future trip to Perth would be for personal reasons, not politics.

For now, the rumour has been firmly rejected.

Battin’s message to those linking him to One Nation was blunt: there is no deal, no meeting, and no interest.

Note: The Australia Today regrets the previous version of this article, stating that Brad Battin has already travelled to Perth for a potential meeting with Pauline Hanson.

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