Ashby tape: Palaszczuk to target One Nation if fraud found

Queensland's premier says she will introduce retrospective laws to prevent electoral fraud if an investigation into One Nation finds any wrongdoing.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and her chief-of-staff James Ashby

Claims James Ashby wants to make money from the Queensland election have been labelled as shocking. (AAP) Source: AAP

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged retrospective legislation to close any loopholes political parties could use to defraud taxpayers as police are asked to probe a secret recording of a One Nation party meeting.

In the tape, recorded at a party meeting last year, Pauline Hanson's Chief of Staff James Ashby is heard suggesting the party could "make some money" at the upcoming Queensland election by charging candidates to cover half the cost of campaign expenses.

Mr Ashby claims it was a "poor choice of words" and that the recording was illegal, while Senator Hanson claims the matter was "knocked on the head there and then."
Labor Senator Murray Watt has called on the police and electoral commission to investigate Senator Hanson, Mr Ashby and One Nation for fraud.

Ms Palaszczuk on Tuesday said if those investigations showed up any loopholes in the state's electoral laws, she would act to close them.

"If the independent investigations of these allegations reveals gaps in our electoral laws that political parties could use to defraud taxpayers, then I will fill those gaps," Ms Palaszczuk said in state parliament on Tuesday.

The premier also pledged to make the laws retrospective, meaning they would apply to the One Nation case if any wrongdoing is found to have occurred.

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Published 23 May 2017 10:26am
Updated 23 May 2017 1:39pm
Source: AAP


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