Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton will remain on the ballot paper at the federal election after failing to disclose his bankruptcy for a second time.
The Australian Electoral Commission on Friday said it made a referral to the Australian Federal Police after finding Mr Culleton was listed as an undischarged bankrupt, when he had declared otherwise during the registration process.
But he will still appear on the WA Senate ballot paper, as electoral laws do not allow the commission to reject a fully completed nomination "regardless of whether any answer to a question of the qualification checklist is incorrect, false or inadequate".
"This means the AEC cannot reject a nomination even if it contains a false declaration as to the eligibility of that person to stand for election," the commission said in a statement.
Mr Culleton was referred to the federal police after nominating under the same circumstances at the 2022 election, with prosecution relating to the incident ongoing.
He was disqualified from parliament in 2017 after being declared bankrupt by the federal court.
The ex-senator was among the candidates declared for Western Australia's upper house in the May 3 election.
"If the AEC is presented with compelling evidence that other candidates in the 2025 federal election may have also signed a false declaration, we will consider whether similar referrals to the AFP are warranted to ascertain if the candidate has committed an offence," the commission said.
The AFP declined to comment.
