Derryn Hinch says Pauline Hanson must be held to account over her political donations
DERRYN Hinch has stepped up his attack on Pauline Hanson after our revelations that she used a personal bank account to receive political donations.
NSW
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SENATOR Derryn Hinch has stepped up his attack on fellow crossbench senator Pauline Hanson after revelations by The Daily Telegraph that she used a personal bank account to receive thousands of dollars of political donations.
Senator Hinch said it was just another example in a long line of problematic behaviour displayed by the embattled One Nation leader.
“Think back over the last 20 years and you start thinking about leopards and spots,” he said yesterday. “I’m hearing there’s more to come, so watch this space. If they had suddenly brought out a series of invoices to prove every dollar that went into her personal account went out again (for electoral expenses), you might be able to justify it, but it’s a bit thin.”
The Telegraph yesterday revealed Ms Hanson had advertised her personal bank account on the One Nation website for three years. She received more than $2500 before last year’s federal election, but electoral records show she did not spend that on campaign expenses.
One Nation wouldn’t explain why the account was used or where the money went, but said all donations were properly declared and accounted for.
Former One Nation treasurer Ian Nelson, formerly a close confidant of Ms Hanson and her chief of staff James Ashby, said he had been unable to monitor her personal account but was aware of its existence. “There was no way, in any way shape or form, that we could have monitored the activities of that account,” Mr Nelson, who left the party last year, said.
Labor also took aim at Ms Hanson yesterday, saying she was “just in politics for herself”. Queensland senator Murray Watt said she “must immediately disclose what donations she has received in this way, and what she has done with the money”.
Mr Watt referred One Nation to the Australian Federal Police over allegations of inappropriate conduct in April.
“This is more evidence that, while Senator Hanson says she’s fighting for battlers, she’s really just in politics for herself,” he said.
Ms Hanson has denied any inappropriate donations and has declined to answer any detailed questions about how much money had been paid into the account.
The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating One Nation over the alleged donation of a light aircraft, which some former party officials have claimed was bought for Ms Hanson’s use by millionaire developer Bill McNee. Both Ms Hanson and Mr Ashby insist the aircraft is owned by Mr Ashby, and that its use during the election campaign was disclosed.
Queensland authorities have also begun investigating recordings of Mr Ashby suggesting the party could make money out of the looming state election.
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