LNP wanted ‘co-operative approach’ to Queensland election, leaked One Nation emails show
PAULINE Hanson’s right-hand man has claimed in a leaked email exchange between the One Nation hierarchy that the LNP courted the party for a “co-operative approach” at the next Queensland election.
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PAULINE Hanson’s right-hand man has claimed the LNP courted One Nation for a “co-operative approach” at the next Queensland election.
The claim by the svengali of the far-right party’s renaissance, James Ashby, is detailed in a leaked email exchange between the One Nation hierarchy, obtained by The Courier-Mail.
The emails, as well as a candid written confession from a former One Nation candidate, expose the madcap antics within a party poised to hold the balance of power in Queensland after the next state election.
They reveal the brusque relationships and passive-aggressive power struggle among the players, collapsing morale among candidates and claims that Ms Hanson rules without question but doesn’t understand party rules.
In one email exchange last September, Mr Ashby claims Senator Malcolm Roberts’ adviser David Goodridge, who founded the short-lived Australian Tea Party, had been approached by Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls’ office.
“David Goodridge has indicated that Tim Nichols’ (sic) main guy has asked for a meeting with David Goodridge and myself regarding a co-operative approach to the state election, however I have not followed this up,” he wrote.
Mr Ashby also advised One Nation’s then marketing manager Saraya Beric to speak to the party’s former Burdekin candidate about people who could run for the party.
Ms Beric later responding that Mr Ashby “may need to have a chat yourself as they appear to be unhappy”.
In a two-page dossier about her time in One Nation, former candidate for the federal seat of Wide Bay, Elise Cottam, said she was endorsed after a Skype interview with Ms Hanson and former president Ian Nelson. “I explained to them that I had just come out of a local government election and I was broke,” she writes. “Ian asked if I owned a suit.”
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