One Nation’s NRA move could cost Coalition dearly
With the federal budget and an election just around the corner, Scott Morrison now faces a crisis quite unlike any seen by a Prime Minister before. His next moves will be critical, writes Tom Ravlic.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison now faces weeks of political hell if he doesn’t take measures to distance himself from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party following revelations that two of her foot soldiers travelled to the US to explore the possibility of securing campaign funding from the National Rifle Association.
On Tuesday, the first instalment of a two-part investigative series by Al Jazeera looking into how the pro-gun lobby seeks to influence politics both on US soil and abroad was released. Caught in its web was One Nation.
RELATED: One Nation members filmed asking NRA for millions in donations
Secret video footage captured by an undercover journalist shows James Ashby, chief of staff to Senator Pauline Hanson, and Steve Dickson, One Nation’s leader in Queensland, Senate candidate in the upcoming federal election and former cabinet minister within the Newman government, had a series of talks with representatives from the NRA about funding prospects and how to run arguments against those who fight for tighter gun control.
The footage also shows Dickson delightedly telling lobbyists that you could hold a government “by the balls” if a party was to secure the balance of power in both houses of parliament at one point.
Later on, Dickson is seen talking about what donation amounts of $10 million and $20 million could secure. $10 million, according to Ashby, could buy eight senate seats.
RELATED: Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie slams ‘appalling’ One Nation meeting
While there is a debate in some parts of the media about the ethics of the investigation, it is undeniable that the footage shows a foolhardy attempt to secure funds for a minor party campaign war chest in exchange for advocacy on gun laws.
It is now for Hanson to consider what steps, if any, she takes in response to the report and what impact it may have on her party’s chances in the upcoming federal election.
As it stands, One Nation has referred Al Jazeera and its reporting to the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, stating that by publishing the story, the media organisation could be interfering with Australia’s electoral processes. There’s nothing to suggest that Hanson will sack Dickson or Ashby, as suggested by former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy on Sky News today, but it is undeniable that these reports will once again focus attention on One Nation and how its political affairs are conducted.
RELATED: Explainer: US gun lobby scandal engulfs One Nation
The challenges for the current federal government, though, are entirely different.
As Prime Minister, Scott Morrison must now consider what to do in the short to medium term.
The Coalition had a win in the New South Wales election over the weekend. It’s a win that Morrison himself has said he wants to replicate in May. But look at what faces him in the short term: the Al Jazeera report — one part of which is still to come — creates a clear potential for the government to be distracted by the sordid affairs of a minor party during a week where final touches are being made on the federal budget.
While it’s not yet known what it holds, the second part of the report could very easily dilute the Coalition’s messages coming from its next federal budget and detract from their plans, as well as the eventual calling of an election. Depending on when the next instalment hits screens, even the timing of that could be compromised.
Distractions like this are not needed right now if you are Scott Morrison sitting in a position where you are trailing the Labor Party in opinion polls.
What the Prime Minister needs to do now, if he wants to gain any sense of control over the issue, is deliver a firmer message on his party’s preferences with One Nation, and sooner rather than later. He will be haunted by this issue all the way until election day otherwise.
Tom Ravlic is an investigative journalist and the author of Vulture City: how our bankers got rich on swindle, due for release in 2019.
Originally published as One Nation’s NRA move could cost Coalition dearly
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