Doughnuts and Donald Trump: Behind the scenes of the One Nation campaign launch

Premier Ben Carroll has been at pains to separate himself from his predecessors, but a One Nation threat to put Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan in jail by Christmas had him lamenting the alarming “Americanisation” of the orange mob’s rallying cry – and that was before he heard about the doughnuts.

At One Nation’s Victorian campaign launch on Saturday, MC and candidate Mark Nicholson provocatively threatened to jail the two former Victorian premiers if the right-wing party won November’s state election.

His aggressive comment in front of the revved-up 1000 party supporters at Crown mirrored US President Donald Trump’s threat a decade ago to “lock up” political rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump and America were an obvious but unspoken influence at the sold-out event from the catering – which consisted of three types of doughnuts – to the Aussie-fide version of MAGA hats. In One Nation’s case, the MAGA on its blue hats stood for Make Albo Go Away.

Fast-forward to Sunday, and Carroll was asked if he found Nicholson’s comments about his old comrades concerning.

Not surprisingly, he said, “it is”, before going on to describe the threat as “deeply alarming”.

“Any Americanisation of our judicial system should be deeply alarming to every single Victorian,” Carroll said.

“We have a principle in Victoria, and indeed Australia – judicial independence – and that should never be compromised or its integrity put at risk.”

Back to the launch, with a “Pauline pothole detector”, a playlist raiding Aussie classics, soft focus video clips of candidates, and sugary snacks, One Nation’s campaign rally was a curious combination of showbiz, slogans and politics – with plenty of merch on the side.

CBD ventured inside the gathering, striking up conversation with orange-clad supporters – think tops, ties, T-shirts and the odd orange jacket, these people love a theme – and candidates mingling around the tables of doughy delicacies.

Funds certainly weren’t wasted on catering. There were three types of the treats to choose from: strawberry icing with sprinkles, chocolate icing with sprinkles or cinnamon sugar.

Merchandise sales ticked over with a selection of three caps, a party orange T-shirt, Please Explain playing cards and even a Pauline Hanson bobblehead being snapped up.

“They are flying off the shelf. We call it a Pauline pothole detector,” one attendee quipped when CBD inquired about the red-headed figurines placed among the caps.

“I’m going to put it on my dashboard, and when we hit a pothole, she will shake her head.”

Interestingly, only one cowboy hat was spotted among the throng, and, as is par for the course with the One Nation circus, the party ute was there, this time parked in the corner of the conference room foyer and being used by many as a backdrop for selfies.

Reflecting perhaps the average age of attendees, the nostalgia card was played heavily, right down to the playlist of Aussie music bangers rolled out as walk-on tracks for candidates and party leaders.

Victorian upper house member Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell arrived on stage to Daddy Cool’s Eagle Rock, Rose Tattoo’s We Can’t Be Beaten was played as Colleen Harkin took to the podium, even You’re The Voice got a run as Warren Pickering was introduced to the room.

CBD has to wonder what the artists would make of their songs being used at the launch.

Hanson took an American option for her music, walking on stage to US rap artist Skrxilla’s Big Time before she was joined by candidates as AC/DC’s Thunderstruck boomed.

Seguing from headbanger to revhead, Hanson on Sunday took a go-kart for a spin in Geelong after another One Nation event.

No laughing matter: Hughesy goes solo

Time for an update on comedian turned political tub thumper, Dave Hughes.

Hughesy’s progressively bolder and louder online railing against the state Labor government, Anthony Albanese’s federal government, budget blowouts, corruption and his support of Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson has been a source of intrigue for CBD over recent months.

Just as interesting has been the reaction of some of his comedian colleagues such as Dave Thornton and Henry Bretz who have turned his political awakening into punchlines.

Now, Hughes has taken another turn, splitting with his long-term management.

Hughesy has been part of Kevin Whyte’s powerful Token management stable for a couple of decades, but recently the parties agreed to part ways.

Hughes is no longer on the Token website. Clicking through to his former profile page, you find a note reading: “Whoops, it looks like the page you are looking for no longer exists or has been moved.”

Hughes confirmed to CBD he was going in a new direction under his own steam, saying he had been heading towards being independent for a while, long before finding his political voice.

“It’s a very amicable split,” he said. “It has been a very mutually beneficial partnership for decades. But I actually do have time to organise my own stuff now, so I’m gonna do it!”

With extra time on his hands, we doubt he is going pull back on his political commentary. In fact, it might even ratchet up a notch.

Foxx spotting

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx has been spotted in Melbourne ahead of filming in the Docklands starting later this week on his new film, Deadlocked.

Foxx turned plenty of heads at the weekend when he got a sweat up playing pickleball at House of Pickle in Port Melbourne.

The Hollywood star is something of a celebrity in the pickleball/paddleball world. In fact, he is known back in Los Angeles for throwing pickleball parties, and co-founded a paddle brand. Expect him to play on while he is in town.