One Nation did not break law over alleged campaign profiteering: AFP
Leaked recordings showed officials considering charging candidates inflated prices for campaign advertising. Photo: ABC
The Australian Federal Police have confirmed Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party has not broken any Commonwealth electoral laws.
The political party was referred to police in May by Labor Senator Murray Watt to determine whether it had breached any state or federal election laws.
The referral came after secret leaked recordings showed party officials considered charging candidates inflated prices for campaign advertising.
Senator Watt raised concerns the party could be lodging inflated invoices with the Electoral Commission of Queensland, in order to get a higher level of taxpayer funding.
The Opposition had also asked the police to consider the use of a private plane donated to the party and used by Senator Hanson and her chief of staff, James Ashby.
The AFP has told the ABC that it investigated the cases and found no wrongdoing.
“The AFP has undertaken an evaluation of the matters referred and based on the information available, has not identified any breaches of Commonwealth law,” a spokesperson said.
The Queensland Electoral Commission is also investigating the party and has not released a finding.
– ABC