One Nation donations directed to Pauline Hanson’s personal bank account

UPDATE: LABOR took aim at Pauline Hanson today after revelations she received thousands of dollars of One Nation political donations in her personal bank account.

A link to Pauline Hanson’s personal bank account has been removed from the One Nation website. Picture Kym Smith

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LABOR today took aim at Senator Hanson for being “just in politics for herself” after revelations she received thousands of dollars of One Nation political donations in her personal bank account and has refused to say what she spent the money on.

Queensland senator Murray Watt said Senator Hanson “must immediately disclose what donations she has received in this way, and what she has done with the money”.

It was Senator Watt who in late April referred One Nation to the Electoral Commission Queensland and the Australian Federal Police over allegations of inappropriate conduct.

“On top of all the other donation scandals surrounding Senator Hanson, she continues to use her party website to seek personal donations for herself,” Senator Watt told The Daily Telegraph today.

“This is more evidence that, while Senator Hanson says she’s fighting for battlers, she’s really just in politics for herself.”

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Senator Hanson advertised her personal bank account on the One Nation website, alongside the official One Nation account, for three years. It was deleted two months ago.

One Nation has declined to explain why Ms Hanson’s personal account was on the party’s website and why it was removed. Picture: Kym Smith

Ahead of the July 2016 federal election, One Nation supporters donated more than $2500 to Ms Hanson’s personal account. It is not known how much money — if any — she has received since that time.

Former One Nation treasurer Ian Nelson, previously a close confidant of Senator Hanson and her chief of staff James Ashby, said he had been unable to monitor Senator Hanson’s personal account but was aware of its existence.

Pauline Hanson’s candidate returns. Source: electiondisclosures.aec.gov.au

“There was no way, in any way shape or form, that we could have monitored the ­activities of that account,” said Mr Nelson, who left One Nation last year.

The account, in the name of Pauline Lee Hanson, is registered to a bank branch in East Maitland in the Hunter Valley, NSW, where Senator Hanson is a part-owner of a former pub. One Nation is registered in Queensland.

Electoral returns for Senator Hanson from the last federal election show that as an individual candidate she raised $2558 from 14 donors.

But the donation disclosure, lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission, records no electoral expenditure or spending on advertising and campaign material during the election.

One Nation has declined to explain why Senator Hanson’s personal account was on the party’s website and why it was removed. The One Nation leader denied any inappropriate donations and declined to answer detailed questions about how much money had been paid into the East Maitland account.

Pauline Hanson with James Ashby. Picture: Annette Dew

“All money donated to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has been recorded and reported in accordance with the AEC and (Electoral Commission Queensland) guidelines,” Mr Ashby said.

“Since the appointment of (party treasurer) Greg Smith in August of 2016, a number of former One Nation accounts have been shut down, with records provided to relevant electoral bodies.”

The AEC is investigating One Nation over the alleged donation of a Jabiru light aircraft, which some former party officials have suggested was bought for Senator Hanson’s use by property developer Bill McNee.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson testing out a Jabiru, the same model as the one used by her party.

Both Senator 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 initial probes into recordings of Mr Ashby suggesting the party could make money out of the looming state election. Mr Ashby has complained to police about the secret recordings.

April 3, 2017

BC airs allegations that former One Nation treasurer Ian Nelson warned leader Pauline Hanson that a light plane she had used had to be disclosed as a political donation since property developer Bill McNee helped fund the purchase of the plane by her chief of staff James Ashby.

April 4, 2017

Australian Electoral Commission confirms it is reviewing whether One Nation breached financial disclosure laws.

April 6, 2017

New allegations emerge that Mr McNee told former high-ranking branch members he bought the plane for One Nation.

May 21, 2017

A recording allegedly reveals Mr Ashby discussing a plan on how to make money from the Queensland election. One Nation says the plan was never pursued.

May 25, 2017

AFP confirm they are evaluating whether to further investigate those claims regarding Mr Ashby.

May 30, 2017

Another recording from November 2016 appears to reveal Senator Hanson indicating that the light aircraft was donated by Mr McNee.