ONE Nation’s candidate for the seat of Hastings, Peter Angelico, was a member of the Liberal Party for 20 years.
In early 2025 he nominated for Liberal preselection for the seat of Hastings, but told The News he withdrew his nomination due to factional infighting.
“I didn’t go to the right schools. I’m from an immigrant background. I work in a trade. I just didn’t fit the bill,” said Angelico.
He’d “had enough”. In his opinion, there wasn’t room for someone like him.
Not only did he pull the pin on his pre-selection, but he quit the party completely.
It is clear Angelico isn’t content with just being a supporter that pays his dues and maybe hands out how-to-vote cards on election day. He wants to be part of the process.
By the time the Nepean by-election came around, he was standing for the seat for the Libertarian Party.
“They were great people with great policies,” said Angelico.
“[Leader] David Limbrick is a great man, and we did achieve some great things, such as getting the land tax issues so many businesses are facing onto the front page of the papers.”
Angelico polled poorly in Nepean, which he puts down to the “unknown brand” of the Libertarians.
During the campaigning, though, he got chatting. Warren Pickering, state president of One Nation in Victoria told him he should come across to them. So did state secretary Bianca Colecchia. Coffees were had and ideas shared. Angelico’s next move was afoot.
By the middle of the year, Angelico had joined One Nation and was soon part of the pre-selection process for Hastings.
“This is where I am from,” said Angelico.
“I went to school here. I grew up on my parents’ apple orchard in Somerville. My mother’s family had an apple orchard in Tyabb. We were part of the history of this area.”
Angelico is now campaigning “pretty much full-time”, concentrating on visiting businesses in the area.
“There are a lot of businesspeople that are candidates for One Nation,” said Angelico.
“And as a businessperson myself, I know what local businesses have been going through.”
Angelico believes both Labor and the Liberal Party have let people down.
“There is just this inner-city arrogance with both of them,” said Angelico.
“And people are just sick of being lied to.”
And as for the Liberal Party, he said they are “too risk adverse”, and “haven’t been bold enough for 20 years”.
Angelico believes there are a lot of Liberals that share his belief and that a lot of them have moved across to One Nation.
“There is a lot of excitement about One Nation. There is a lot of excitement among the volunteers,” said Angelico.
“And you can see it in the numbers. Labor are bleeding votes to the ‘Teals’, and the Liberals are bleeding votes to One Nation.”
Angelico believes the issues we are experience are a product of arrogance.
“Whether it is the price of petrol, or the potholes, we have this ruling class that just can’t get it done,” said Angelico.
“And the people are looking at things getting worse and saying, ‘where is the money going to come from to fix all this?’”.
Angelico is a supporter of the green wedge, but also supports coal-fired power, and is a supporter of One Nation’s stance on nuclear power for the state.
“We are surrounded by bad decisions made by people that have been in politics all their lives,” said Angelico.
“I have a business background. The difference is if you make a mistake in business, you have to learn from it. The major parties, when they make a mistake, they do nothing.
“The reason why is simple. It’s not their money.”
Angelico said the people should not be fooled by the majors “splashing the cash” during the campaign.
“They promise x millions here and y millions there, but the people of the electorate must ask one question. ‘Where is the money coming from?’.”
Angelico said he isn’t interested in “playing the man” during the campaign, but rather on concentrating on policy.
“I’ve spoken to Paul [Mercurio]. We enjoy each other’s company. We are around the same age, and I am looking forward to a respectful campaign,” said Angelico.
“But all other thing aside, this campaign is about one thing. Getting rid of the Socialists. That is what I am concentrating on.”
First published in the Western Port News – 14 October 2026
