SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

AEC handed One Nation documents

The Australian Electoral Commission has been given information about a plane used by Pauline Hanson as it probes possible electoral law breaches by One Nation.

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

An Australian Electoral Commission investigation into Pauline Hanson's One Nation isn't restricted to the use of an aircraft, former party president Ian Nelson says.

Mr Nelson told AAP he's handed information to the AEC, which is investigating possible breaches of electoral funding disclosure laws by One Nation.

This includes a transfer of funds by Victorian businessman Bill McNee to Senator Hanson's adviser James Ashby, a licensed pilot, to buy a Jabiru light aircraft after a discussion at her home - organised by Mr Nelson and then-party secretary Saraya Beric - in April 2015.

Records show the aircraft, which bears the One Nation logo and has been used on multiple trips by Senator Hanson, was registered to Mr Ashby in June 2015.

Mr Ashby, who operates a Queensland printing business, has said his company bought the plane and "the hours for party use have been declared".

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Senator Hanson has on a number of occasions described it as the "party's plane" and said she paid for fuel when she needed to use it.

However, a payment from the party of $1187 is noted as "Jabiru aircraft service" in an Electoral Commission of Queensland disclosure for the period from January to June 2016.

Mr Nelson said he had responded an AEC's "letter of demand" and met with investigators last week.

"I've always cooperated with the ECQ and AEC in good faith," he told AAP on Monday.

"There are more issues, but they are particularly interested in the airplane. There are also internal management issues."

Mr Ashby, who denies any wrongdoing, had advised him against declaring the aircraft, Mr Nelson said.

"I said these things have to be done as per the rules and the regulations of both the AEC and ECQ - end of story."

Mr Nelson said Mr Ashby also acquired an $8000 camera after the 2016 election.

"We (the party) never saw the invoice from the supplier. We just got the invoice from Ashby. We had to pay that and that was out of taxpayer funds and I was just distraught out of that," Mr Nelson said.

The former party official also described an alleged incident when Senator Hanson first met Mr Ashby in November 2014.

"The first thing Pauline said to me when she first met him - she grabbed me by the arm and dragged me outside and she said 'you keep an eye on him, because I don't trust him'," Mr Nelson said.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin has confirmed his agency is "evaluating" allegations against One Nation.

Matters have also been referred to the Queensland police, Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, Attorney-General George Brandis, Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Special Minister of State Scott Ryan.

Comment is being sought from Senator Hanson's office and Mr Ashby.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world