The Australian Federal Police have confirmed they are evaluating whether to further investigate claims Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff tried to make money off One Nation candidates.
Mr Ashby said the ‘secret’ recordings involving him and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson discussing how to make money off party members was a ‘brainstorming’ session.
“They were very broad allegations that were contained in the media. That doesn’t necessarily mean an offence has been committed,” AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin told an estimates hearing of Parliament.
Senator Hanson was present at the hearing but didn’t ask any questions of the AFP.
“Before we progress to an investigation, we need to satisfy ourselves that there’s a reasonable likelihood an offence has been committed,” Mr Colvin said.
Which police force would investigate potential crimes is also being considered, according to the AFP.
“If they are Queensland-based offences, Queensland police will take the lead,” Mr Colvin said.
“If they’re Commonwealth offences, the AFP will take the lead but invariably with these matters it crosses over many agencies.”
Earlier in the week, One Nation shot down suggestions it was trying to profit from candidates after the recording of a meeting emerged.
"We say to the candidates we will fund 50 per cent of this package. So the package might be $5000. You're going to pay $2500 and we'll pay the other $2500 of the $5000,” Mr Ashby is heard saying.
"The other $2500 is the profit. It's the fat. And I'll write it off. I don't want the cash for it. I will make it as a tax deduction or..."
When asked how the party would make money, he explains: "Because when you lodge the receipt at the full price with the Electoral Commission of Queensland you get back the full amount that's been issued to you as an invoice."
There is no evidence the plan was carried out and there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing on Mr Ashby's part.
Mr Ashby now says the conversation was merely brainstorming session and the party never enacted anything discussed in it.
