Christensen takes on former One Nation figure as adviser Hanson’s gun hired

THE man behind Pauline Hanson’s famous “Swamped by Asians” maiden speech has joined forces with maverick Coalition MP George Christensen as a key adviser.

John Pasquarelli, who was a senior figure behind Pauline Hanson’s rise to power in the late 1990s, has joined Mr Christensen’s team to provide advice on Adani’s Carmichael mine.

In 1996, he penned Ms Han- son’s controversial speech attacking the Australian Government’s immigration policies, a sentiment echoed last year in her calls for a Muslim ban as a senator.

Prior to last year’s federal election, the One Nation leader had not spoken to the Townsville- based adviser for nine years but the pair have since reconnected.

The new partnership is set to reignite speculation Mr Christensen is considering a move to One Nation, eliminat- ing the Turnbull Government’s one- seat majority, after hinting at jumping ship earlier this year.

Mr Pasquarelli said he had worked with the Dawson MP during the 2013 election campaign and had no intentions of orchestrating a defection.

“Me and George aren’t plotting by any means,” he said.

“That rumour ( of a jump to One Nation) bounces backwards and forwards but ultimately that’s a decision up to George. I still speak to Pauline, and George, of course, knows her and sees her regularly.

“What he does with her his or her business.”

But Mr Pasquarelli said One Nation stood a strong chance of gaining a foothold in North Queensland.

“Up here in the North, she’s got very strong support,” he said. “However I’m not in One Nation. I’ve resigned from all political affiliations and I’m just working as myself.”

Mr Pasquarelli said his extensive experience with min- is ing companies in Papua New Guinea would be used to advise Mr Christensen on the Carmichael mine project.

“Townsville and Mackay desperately need the Adani coal mine and it’s getting a lot of opposition,” he said.

“We just have to make sure that Adani and the governments, of course, do the right thing. That means no 457 visas coming through the back door and no tricky deals with unions.”