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Senator Brian Burston threatens to sue Pauline Hanson for defamation
By Joanne McCarthy
Former One Nation Senator Brian Burston has made a statement to Australian Federal Police investigating a Parliament House altercation with One Nation staffer James Ashby that led to Mr Ashby's banning from Parliament.
Senator Burston also said he will sue Ms Hanson for defamation after a fiery interview on Friday morning in which she defended Mr Ashby for trying to report "the sexual abuse and harassment that was going on with the female staff" in Senator Burston's office to Senate president Scott Ryan.
Senators Brian Burston and Pauline Hanson in the chamber together.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Senator Burston said he had instructed his lawyer to initiate proceedings after viewing the Friday morning Today show interview and strongly denying the allegations.
"She's said sexual abuse and harassment. I deny the allegations completely, absolutely and utterly," Senator Burston said.
"I've instructed my lawyer to send her a concerns notice because I'm being accused of being a sexual predator. Of course it's hurtful. This is nasty now and it doesn't only affect me, it has a terrible impact on my wife as well."
Senator Burston said months of text messages between himself and a staff member were evidence that would refute sexual harassment allegations first raised in February at the time of the altercation with Mr Ashby.
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson launched a furious defence of her chief of staff, James Ashby, at a press conference on Thursday. Credit: AAP
In the Today interview Ms Hanson agreed she was "fired up" about Mr Ashby's Parliament House ban for "inappropriate behaviour" after the February incident.
Ms Hanson alleged "the aggression came from Brian Burston to James Ashby" and "James Ashby never laid a hand" on Senator Burston.
Pauline Hanson adviser James Ashby, left, and Senator Brian Burston in an altercation at Parliament House.
The AFP confirmed it was investigating the altercation between Mr Ashby and Senator Burston but declined to comment further, after Senator Burston and wife Rosalyn made electronic records of interview on March 14 following a complaint by Senator Burston.
The AFP did not respond to a question about whether it has interviewed Mr Ashby.
Mr Ashby, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's chief of staff, has not responded to a request for comment.
Senator Burston's private application for an apprehended violence orderagainst Mr Ashby after the Parliament House incident is listed for mention at Toronto Local Court, near Newcastle, on April 9. Mr Ashby has not yet filed a response to the AVO application.
Senator Hanson's Today interview came at the end of a week in which Mr Ashby and One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson appeared in an undercover television documentary, How to Sell a Massacre, talking about soliciting millions of dollars from the American gun lobby.
In a media conference after the first part of the show was aired, Mr Ashby denied "selling Australia down the drain" and said there was "no way we were out to change Australian gun laws".
On Friday Ms Hanson refused to accept blame for the controversy, accusing the program makers of cutting, splicing and dubbing parts of the show to discredit One Nation.
Senator Burston said he was not surprised by a section of the document showing Ms Hanson appearing to question whether the 1996 Port Arthur massacre was a government conspiracy.
"I've twice heard her saying something like that. Once was at Corlette. She said there was 'more to it than meets the eye'," Senator Burston said.
"I said to her: 'Don't go out in public stating that or people will think you're a lunatic," he said.
Ms Hanson did not respond to a request for comment.