Warren Pickering, leader of One Nation in Victoria, has strongly rejected allegations of abuse made by his former partner, describing them as false and politically motivated. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Mornington, south of Melbourne, Pickering dismissed the claims as a “blatant political hatchet job” amid an ongoing police investigation into the matter.

The allegations stem from accusations by Jo Scott, Pickering’s former partner, who alleged that she was physically abused during their 18-year relationship, which she said was marked by mutual drug use. The investigation came to light on Monday, when it was reported that Victoria Police were looking into the historical claims following the referral of evidence from Queensland Police. This included a video interview with Scott and supporting documentation.

Victoria Police confirmed that Pickering had waived his right to be interviewed about the allegations through his solicitor. At the press conference, he confirmed that he declined to participate in the police inquiry, saying he would not "entertain false allegations" and would not waste police resources addressing what he called politically motivated accusations.

Pickering emphasized the significance of the upcoming Victorian election, which he described as the most consequential in the state's history, and stated that he and his party intended to focus on campaigning. When questioned about whether cooperating with police might help expedite the investigation, Pickering maintained his position that the claims were politically driven and declined to provide further details.

The ongoing investigation has added scrutiny to Pickering’s candidacy in the Pakenham electorate, though the police inquiry remains active and no formal charges have been reported. Both One Nation and Victoria Police have not released additional comments beyond Pickering’s public statements and standard procedural confirmations.