A minor political party advocating for marijuana legalisation has amassed over 244,519 votes nationwide in the Australian federal election, potentially unseating One Nation leader Pauline Hanson from her Senate position. The Legalise Cannabis Australia party's candidate, Bernard Bradley, is trailing Hanson by a narrow margin in the race for Queensland's sixth Senate seat, with Hanson holding 0.5431 of a quota against Bradley's 0.4643. However, Hanson's lead remains precarious as preference flows could shift in favour of the micro-party.
The party, which seeks to legalise cannabis across Australia, has seen a 4.9 per cent positive swing in its vote share since the last election, now commanding 6.7 per cent of the total vote. Bernard Bradley, a 52-year-old criminal defence lawyer from Noosa, stated he was 'fed up' with drug-related charges and called for uniform, adult-oriented laws. 'It's time to change these outdated laws and have a uniform approach that treats adults like adults,' he said, noting inconsistencies between jurisdictions such as the Australian Capital Territory, where homegrown cannabis is legal, and Queensland, where it remains a criminal offence.
Bradley emphasised he does not advocate a 'free for all' but argued current laws waste resources. He pointed to international examples where legalisation has not led to negative outcomes, and noted cannabis was legal in Australia until 1957 when the country adopted US-style prohibition. He indicated he would largely act as an independent on other issues if elected.
Hanson's One Nation party has suffered a 2.5 per cent swing against it in Queensland, winning just 7.8 per cent of the Senate vote so far. Despite heavy campaigning and significant spending, both One Nation and Clive Palmer's United Australia Party failed to make substantial gains. One Nation may secure only one Senate seat, while the United Australia Party could win one in Victoria. Legalise Cannabis Australia is also performing strongly in Victoria, trailing closely behind the UAP candidate.
The party's success may signal shifting public attitudes towards drug policy. RMIT criminal law lecturer Jarryd Bartle predicted full legalisation in at least one Australian state within five years, citing the ACT's homegrown model and Canada's regulatory approach as potential templates. He noted the vote for Legalise Cannabis Australia reflects a core issue for some voters, consistent with national polls, but cautioned that support can shift, as seen in New Zealand's cannabis referendum.
