Ashby denies poll cash plan
PAULINE Hanson’s righthand man James Ashby suggested an apparent plan to turn the looming Queensland election into a cash cow for the party by duping candidates and the state’s Electoral Commission, an explosive recording reveals.
The recording reveals a conversation understood to have taken place late last year during a meeting at which Senator Hanson was also present.
During that conversation Mr Ashby – who is Senator Hanson’s chief of staff – tells the meeting how he thinks they could make money out of the state election by selling items purchased for the campaign to candidates at inflated prices.
“We say to the candidates we will fund 50 per cent of this package. So the package might be $ 5000. You’re going to pay $ 2500 and we’ll pay the other $ 2500 of the $ 5000,” Mr Ashby can be heard telling the meeting.
Mr Ashby is asked: “Where are we making money”.
He responds: “Because when you lodge the receipt at the full price with the Electoral Commission of Queensland you get back the full amount that’s been issued to you as an invoice.”
Mr Ashby yesterday denied any suggestion he was putting forward such a plan.
“That’s not what the party does and prices are reflective in the invoices paid by the party and candidates,” he said.
“To suggest otherwise false.” is