A One Nation candidate in a key marginal seat used a member of the anti-immigrant extremist group True Blue Crew as a volunteer organiser while praising the “nationalistic ideology” at one of the group’s events.

The right-wing group True Blue Crew marching on the streets of Melbourne during an Australia Pride March in 2017. Credit:Chris Hopkins

One Nation has now forbidden candidates from associating with True Blue Crew, which was banned from Facebook after posting Islamophobic messages in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.

But a former state secretary of the party is acting as a spokesman for the group, orchestrating events with a range of right-wing politicians.

The Brisbane seat of Petrie, one of the federal election’s tighter contests, is held by a 1.6 per cent margin by the Liberal National Party’s Luke Howarth, who has admitted he needs One Nation preferences.