At a Sydney anti-immigration rally on Sunday, Stuart Bonds — One Nation’s upper house candidate in New South Wales — delivered a speech criticizing "mass" migration.
Bonds’ statements
He stated: ‘Make no mistake, we are being demographically replaced inside our own nation.’
In what appears to reference the far-right conspiracy theory known as the 'great replacement,' he said: ‘That’s the socialist plan, is to destroy and bring down and tear down the fabric of your civilisation.’
The remarks were made during a Facebook video broadcast from an event organized by the Australian Lobby Group. Bonds did not challenge host Scott Challen's assertion that Labor governments are building "ethnic voting blocks" with Middle Eastern and subcontinent communities — instead responding: ‘Mate, and that’s why we’re going to get rid of all of the multicultural grants, right?’
Criticism and political response
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the comments ‘frankly outrageous and racist’, prompting both houses of Parliament to pass motions censuring Bonds, though he is still not a formal member.
The Coalition responded four days later. Opposition leader Kellie Sloane described Bonds' language as ‘clearly divisive’. She ruled out forming a coalition with One Nation but said that if post-election power-sharing becomes necessary, she would consider working with any party in a minority government.
Australia’s Financial Review reports several Coalition MPs privately expect a partnership with One Nation after March's state election — reflecting the party’s strong polling performance and its current position ahead of the upper house contest.
Potential impact on electoral strategy
ABC Upper Hunter interviewer Antony Green noted that Bonds’ remarks align well with Labor’s messaging strategies for multi-ethnic seats such as those along Sydney’s rural fringes. These areas are among One Nation’s targeted regions.
The deputy premier, Prue Car, who has Indian heritage and represents the electorate of Londonderry, criticized Bonds directly in question time: ‘Who’s he talking about when he talks about this? I tell you who he’s talking about — he’s talking about families like mine, and families that I represent.’
Internal party stance
NSW One Nation leader Mike Newman said on Tuesday: ‘What I will say is that what Stuart Bonds is a patriotic Aussie. He’s a coalminer. He has very, very strong views.’
Newman, who previously dismissed claims of racism within the party, added: ‘We want to protect Australian values… That is the fundamental thing that Stuart Bonds is pushing for. It’s about assimilation.’
The NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey — whose parents immigrated from India in the 1970s — told ABC that Bonds’ assertions lack factual grounding: ‘He’s saying there is a deliberate conspiracy to use migrants to replace native-born Australians for political reasons,’ Mookhey said.
Election context and prospects
Bonds has an almost certain path to election due to the upper house's 4.5% quota threshold. One Nation currently polls between 20% and 30%, with only three candidates named so far: Newman, Bonds, and Jeff Bacon, a firearms manufacturer.
Kos Samaras, former Labor strategist and Redbridge polling director, noted that while such remarks may alienate moderate Liberal voters — especially those concerned about coalition alignment with One Nation — ‘you might be able to get away with it in certain parts of NSW’.
Samaras also suggested One Nation could ‘clean the deck’ in regional areas where Labour holds seats or where Coalition influence is weaker. However, no official decision has been made on whether Bonds will remain on the ticket for the 2027 election.
The full context remains under political scrutiny as both major parties assess how far they are willing to go in responding to statements perceived as divisive and ideologically charged.