Former New South Wales trade and investment commissioner Mike Newman is set to be announced as the state leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party in a press conference scheduled for Friday in Singleton. The event will mark the official launch of One Nation’s campaign to contest the NSW state election next March, with the party aiming to challenge both Labor and Coalition strongholds in the region.

Mr. Newman, who is expected to stand as the One Nation candidate in the seat of Cessnock, brings significant corporate and international trade experience to the party. His background includes over 25 years working in Japan within large corporate firms, as well as senior roles such as the head of sales for HSBC Securities Japan and country head of Macquarie Capital Securities Japan from 2007 to 2015. More recently, he served as New South Wales’ senior trade and investment commissioner for North Asia at Investment NSW, a position he held from 2021 until its abolition in 2024 under the Minns government.

One Nation is targeting the Hunter region in particular as part of its strategy. Cessnock, represented by Labor MP Clayton Barr since 2011, has been a Labor-held seat for most of its history with only a brief exception. In the 2023 state election, Barr received 48.7% of the primary vote, while the One Nation candidate secured 15.3%. Despite the seat’s traditional working-class and union-backed mining community profile, recent issues such as controversial Labor reforms on gun laws and other policies have created a political opening that One Nation hopes to exploit.

The neighboring Upper Hunter seat, currently held by Nationals MP Dave Layzell with a margin of 3.8%, is also a focus for the party. High-profile One Nation member Stuart Bonds is expected to top the party’s upper house ticket and may also run in Upper Hunter, indicating the party’s intention to concentrate resources on these electorates.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has publicly acknowledged the growing threat posed by One Nation in the Hunter region, describing the party’s increasing support base as a significant challenge. He emphasized the need to take the contender seriously, stating that he has witnessed the party’s rise firsthand within his own community. Labor insiders have indicated that the party is preparing to commit substantial resources to defend vulnerable seats in the region ahead of the March 2027 election, with some sources warning that Labor could lose ground if the election were held today.

With Mr. Newman’s addition, analysts note that One Nation is seeking to add professional credibility and business expertise to its campaign, complementing its existing working-class support. The party’s efforts in the Hunter will be closely watched as it attempts to disrupt the longstanding political landscape of the area.