One Nation adviser to get his pass back

Paul Hanson's One Nation chief of staff James Ashby has been told he can apply for a parliamentary access pass after it was withdrawn earlier this year.

James Ashby One Nation

One Nation official James Ashby can apply for a parliamentary pass that was revoked after a scuffle. (AAP)

It's not only MPs and senators that will head to Canberra when parliament resumes next month.

Pauline Hanson's controversial chief of staff James Ashby will be joining them with a brand new parliamentary access pass.

Mr Ashby had his pass withdrawn in February after becoming involved in a physical altercation with outgoing senator and former One Nation member Brian Burston in Parliament House.

The Australian Federal Police had investigated the scuffle and found there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Ashby, who can now apply for a pass after police confirmed their activities related to the incident had ceased.

Senator Burston claimed Mr Ashby approached him near parliament's Great Hall as he and his wife Ros were leaving a dinner function in February.

Senator Burston alleged he was injured when he tried to grab a mobile phone Mr Ashby was waving in his face. He appeared with a bandaged hand in the Senate the next day.

The senator from NSW resigned from One Nation in 2018 after falling out with Senator Hanson, then joining Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

Senator Burston's tenure in the upper house ends on June 30 after failing to gain sufficient votes in the NSW state at the May 18 federal election.


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Source: AAP



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