One Nation’s first big test in Victorian politics – the Nepean byelection – may have put the fast-rising party in breach of Victoria’s electoral laws, after state president Warren Pickering advised candidate Darren Hercus to use a personal bank account to accept campaign donations.

Two former One Nation branch members, who quit the party due their concerns about its handling of donations and other issues relating to Hercus’ campaign, say that Pickering told a February 22 meeting of the party’s Nepean committee it was standard practice for One Nation candidates to use personal accounts to manage campaign finance.

One Nation Victorian state president Warren Pickering in a photo posted to his Instagram account last December.…