Brian Burston to launch legal action following altercation with James Ashby

Brian Burston says he will file a complaint with the AFP and take legal action on James Ashby, after an altercation between the pair.

United Australia Party senator Brian Burston says he will file a complaint with federal police and take legal action on One Nation chief of staff James Ashby, after Senator Burston ended up in a physical clash with Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff in the halls of parliament, and publicly accused her of sexual harassment.

“Brian Burston has reported the full matter to the Australian Federal Police and has commenced legal proceedings against James Ashby seeking a restraining order over repeated acts of harassment and aggression,” Senator Burston’s spokesman said in a statement this afternoon.

“There will be no further comments as the matter is now in the hands of the police.”

Senator Burston accused Mr Ashby of a prolonged period of harassment against him and his wife. Mr Ashby and Senator Hanson’s office has been approached for comment.

The Australian does not suggest Senator Burston’s allegations are true, just that they have been made.

Earlier, Senator Hanson said her former One Nation colleague Brian Burston needs assistance with “anger management”.

The One Nation leader laughed off allegations she has sexually harassed Senator Burston over their 20-year working relationship and says she now wants to focus on other matters.

The allegations and violent scuffle comes as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation once again descended into chaos over her broken-down relationship with Senator Burston, now a member of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

“I just think it’s retaliation and it’s a shame that this has happened in parliament, it’s not what I wanted to see happened,” she told a media scrum outside parliament today.

“He (Senator Burston) needs to get some anger management. There’s problems in his office. It’s a real shame I don’t like to see this.”

Senator Burston and Senator Hanson’s chief of staff, Mr Ashby, were engaged in an altercation last night in the halls of parliament. Senator Burston later told News Corp Australia he had made a complaint to federal police.

The altercation between Brian Burston and James Ashby. Picture: Geoff Chambers

A federal police spokesman told The Australian that they were of the matter, but no complaint has yet been made.

Senator Burston told The Daily Telegraph last night that Senator Hanson once touched his back in a sexual manner in 1998, and as recently as three years ago had propositioned him. The Australian does not suggest the allegations are true, only that they have been made.

Senator Burston alleged Senator Hanson’s unwanted ­advances over two decades were a factor in his decision to quit One Nation last year following the pair’s fallout over the party’s position on the government’s company tax cuts.

Speaking on Sky News last night, Senator Hanson denied the allegations.

“I might be 64 but I’m not that desperate. These are allegations that have been made up, there are no truth to them whatsoever and I feel sorry for his wife, I really feel sorry for his wife,” she said.

She later told 7News that after she gave her speech at parliament, she heard Senator Burson, who was sitting behind her, say “the gloves are off now”.

“It’s just an absolutely ridiculous allegation to say that I invited him up to my room,” she said.

In response to the heated scuffle recorded by her Chief of Staff, she said Senator Burson had a “terrible, vindictive nature and he just can’t stand James,” she said.

Senator Burston’s comments came after Senator Hanson on Tuesday night told parliament that an unnamed senator who had been involved in “more than six” unfair dismissal cases was also facing “another case of serious sexual harassment”.

The Australian is not suggesting Senator Hanson was referring to Senator Burston. Senator Burston also denied to other media outlets that he has sexually harassed members of his staff.