One Nation: Campbell Newman meets with James Ashby days after predicting One Nation will wins seats in next Queensland election

FORMER premier Campbell Newman has met with a One Nation powerbroker, just days after predicting the party would hold the balance of power in the next Queensland parliament.

Former Queensland premier Campbell Newman insists his meeting with One Nation in Brisbane was as a “political commentator”. Picture: File

FORMER premier Campbell Newman has met with One Nation powerbroker James Ashby, just days after predicting the party would hold the balance of power in the next parliament.

Mr Newman was spotted speaking with Mr Ashby at Waterfront Place Thursday morning, where One Nation has its offices and where the former premier regular goes for business-related meetings.

But Mr Newman downplayed the significance of the discussion and would not say if Senator Pauline Hanson was at the meeting.

“I’m happy to confirm that I talked,” he said.

“I’m a political commentator these days. I’m not a political candidate or a political operative.”

Mr Newman said he was willing to meet with any political party about their plans for Queensland.

“The ones who seem to want to talk to me at the moment are One Nation,” he said.

On Monday, Mr Newman predicted the next Queensland government would need to rely on One Nation support and predicted the resurgent party would gain at least three seats, as detailed in the video above.

Mr Newman told The Courier-Mail he expected One Nation to win at least three seats off each Labor and the LNP

“Bundaberg is under significant threat to them (Labor),” he said.

“The Labor Party are going to lose two seats in North Queensland.

“Straight away my minimum predictions at the moment, One Nation will pick up three seats from Labor.

“What about the LNP then, well Lockyer is in play with the departure of Ian Rickuss and you would think that again there’s a range of seats that you could pick that could go.”