Ah, Pauline Hanson doesn’t seem like she can catch a break, can she? All those things One Nation inexplicably did seem to be coming back to haunt her.
Today’s scoop – as reported by The Daily Telegraph – is that Pauline received thousands of dollars of One Nation donations into her own personal bank account. Said account was advertised on the One Nation website alongside the party’s official bank account for three years, before being deleted about two months ago.
Hanson has not disclosed what these donations, which amounted to more than $2500 at the time of the July 2016 election, were actually used for. It’s unknown if she received any money after that point. Former One Nation treasurer Ian Nelson says he was aware of the account but was unable to monitor it.
The account is in the name of Pauline Lee Hanson, and is registered to a bank branch in East Maitland, NSW, whereas One Nation is registered in Queensland. Hanson part-owns a former pub there.
The donations were registered through the Australian Electoral Commission, but no expenditures were. One Nation adviser James Ashby told the Tele that everything is above board:
All money donated to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has been recorded and reported in accordance with the AEC and (Electoral Commission Queensland) guidelines. 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.
Ashby is currently subject to initial probes from Queensland authorities about a recording which he allegedly made comments suggesting that the party and its members could make money out of the state elections. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Pauline herself is under investigation from the AEC over the allegedly undisclosed donation of a light aircraft for use in the election campaign.
Whichever way you look at it – One Nation is copping some serious heat.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
Photo: Getty Images.
