4 May 2008

SUNDAY MAIL BEAT UP

The Sunday Mail's heading "Hanson funding faces inquiry" is a beat up. I wish newspapers and journalists would convey all facts to the public. I have found over the years they don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. At no time has Glenn Milne or any other journalist covering this story attempted to contact Bronwyn Boag the Party Agent for verification of facts or Brian Burston the NSW Senate candidate and a committee member.

I want everyone, especially the members of Pauline's United Australia Party, to know the funding from the Australian Electoral Commission was deposited into a Pauline's United Australia Party account; again the media has failed to stipulate this. Under the law the Party Agent nominates the account that the funding is to be deposited. Originally, the Party Agent Bronwyn Boag had nominated the Party's working account. This was changed with the Electoral Commission after another party account was set up for the funds. Alan Page from the Australian Electoral Commission was contacted. He faxed the form to Mrs Boag who filled in the new party bank account details then signed and faxed the form back to the Commission. Alan Page was then contacted by Mrs Boag who verified that the form was received.

The account was changed because Graham McDonald was complaining about the cost of the campaign and the bills that were coming in. As I stated, I paid for most of my campaign costs and the balance was from donations. It was me who would be responsible for any outstanding bills if I had not reached the 4% required by the Electoral Commission.

Graham McDonald is well known to some former One Nation members. Around the time of Pauline Hanson's One Nation deregistration, he was very instrumental in trying to turn members against me and caused dissension within the party. In fact when I told those close to me that he was going to be involved in running my campaign and the party, they could not believe I would have anything to do with him again. I had to, because there was no else who was in a position to help run a campaign and the party office. Also he assured me he was there for me. Since the election McDonald told me he wanted to give the money to another minor political party. Both he and his wife are signatories to the account he wants to control.

Pasquarelli was initially involved in my campaign. At our first meeting after 10 years he insisted I had to work with Graham McDonald in my election bid. It wasn't long before he was telling me "don't expect any help from me if you don't get the party registered". After I did get the party registered Pasquarelli then proceeded to tell me how to run my campaign, and was constantly putting me down to Jan and Graham McDonald. I couldn't take anymore of his interference, abuse and standover tactics, so I distanced myself from having anything further to do with him.

In Glenn Milne's article it stated that I was "also found guilty of fraudulently being paid almost $500,000 in funding reimbursement to which the party was not entitled".

When Pauline Hanson's One Nation won 11 seats in Parliament in 1998 it was entitled under the Queensland Electoral Act to receive approximately $502,000. As party agent the money was paid to me on behalf of the party which was banked in Watkins, Stokes and Templeton's Trust account (Brisbane solicitors) for the party. When the party was deregistered, the Queensland Electoral Commission demanded that I repay the monies not the party. Let me also state that candidates in that election received $307,000 of that funding and the balance plus another $200,000 went into campaign expenses. I was not a candidate in that election.

I was able to pay the $502,000 to the Commission only because of the generosity and support from Australians who donated to my fighting fund. With monies refunded, I was then charged with fraud over the registration of Pauline's Hanson One Nation in Queensland and receiving monies from the Electoral Commission. The charge being that when I submitted the names of 500 members for the registration, I knowingly knew they were not members of the Party but members of Pauline Hanson's Support Movement. This was trumped up by the DPP and the police who raided the offices of the party in Qld and NSW. No Support Movement membership database was found on computer or file in either office. At that time we had approx 18,000 members in Pauline Hanson's One Nation, why would I supply Support Movement member's names? At no time did I hold Pauline Hanson's Support Movement membership database. The Electoral Act at the time stated "500 member's names or an associated entity" there was never any case to answer. I should never have been charged.

David Ettridge and I were found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment. After 11 weeks I was exonerated on appeal. After seeking compensation from the Queensland Labor Government, both David and I were refused. It is interesting to note that they paid Di Fingleton $475,000 for wrongful imprisonment.

Also I have written to the Queensland Electoral Commission for reimbursement of the $502,000 with interest. Publicly I have stated that I want to refund monies to the people who donated to my fighting fund. I will never forget their generosity because without it, I would have had to sell my much loved home, to pay the Electoral Commission.

The Queensland Electoral Commission refused to repay the monies. Having been found "not guilty" on appeal, one would believe they have no right to withhold the money.

Why hasn't newspapers or Glenn Milne covered this story. Is it because that by endeavouring to discredit me, it will erode my support base and any chance of ever holding a seat in Parliament again. Am I still that much of a threat to the major political parties?

The good thing about all this attention I receive is that it creates debate and from that debate Australians are better informed as to the funding paid to political parties and Independents. I disagree with the funding that is paid and was pleased with recent changes the government made. If they are concerned about electoral funding why don't they stop it altogether and make candidates and political parties pay for their own campaigns, not the taxpayer.

As I have stated before I have nothing to hide and have done nothing wrong. I refuse to talk to the media, in my opinion a lot are biased, ill-informed and kowtow to their bosses. If some people are going to criticise they should at least know the facts.

If anyone is interested in the full story and the truth, read my autobiography "Untamed and Unashamed" or "Consider Your Verdict" by David Ettridge.

Pauline Hanson

ELECTORAL FUNDING ALLEGATIONS

Over the years I have been hounded by media seeking to discredit me and my political views and aspirations. Most of the information they receive is from people who have an axe to grind, or have tried to control or use me for their own agenda.

SO I WILL EXPLAIN

Pauline's United Australia party agent, Bronwyn Boag, submitted to the Australian Electoral Commission the required account details in document form for the deposit of electoral funding received from the 2008 election.

When the funding was deposited by the AEC to the bank, the bank deposited the funds in Pauline's United Australia Party's working account and not into the nominated account.

When this error was brought to the attention of the branch manager, he rang the AEC to confirm the account details and then transferred the money to the nominated account.

The monies were deposited into an interest bearing account so as to maximise the income for the party. The account is called Pauline's United Australia Party.

Mr Graham McDonald and his wife Jan have assisted with party business and my campaign, from their business office at Narangba since May last year. Following the election I did have a meeting with Mr McDonald and other party members, when it was decided that the office was to be moved closer to my residence in Ipswich, so I could have a greater input in to the running of the party. Mr McDonald agreed to hand over all party documentation but has not done so to date. This decision was largely based on the fact that Mr McDonald and Jan were selling their business, retiring and travelling overseas. Also they indicated they no longer wanted to continue running the party from their place of business. At this time the signatories to the working account were Graham McDonald, Jan McDonald and I, of which any two signatures were required to withdraw funds.

At this meeting I asked for documentation held by Mr McDonald that was necessary for the submission of the electoral return, required under law, from a candidate. I also asked for the membership database because a lot of members had informed me that they had not received confirmation of their membership or membership cards. I felt that Mr McDonald and Jan, although I acknowledge they tried their best during a very hectic time, did not cope well with running the party or assisting with my campaign. Hence the party and my campaign suffered.

I had a disagreement with Mr McDonald over the payment of an outstanding account to a website designer that he didn't want to pay. A vote was taken at the meeting that the account was to be paid. Mr McDonald then wrote a cheque for part payment owing. It was not till later on after having had the electoral funding credited to the correct party account that I was able to finalise payment to the web designer who was a young business man struggling to make ends meet and pay his staff.

Mr McDonald says he feels stabbed in the back. I can assure you, no more than I. Taping our conversations unbeknowns to me is not the act of a friend or someone I should trust? I didn't want to associate with him again because of past experiences that revolved around Pauline's Hansons One Nation. John Pasquarelli insisted that I should forgive and forget, I did, and now I am sorry for doing so with both of them.

My campaign and that of Pauline's United Australia Party cost me personally over $100,000. McDonald's comment that I, “didn't really put the effort in to the campaign”, is an absolute insult and a lie. I travelled by car twice to Cairns and as far west as the Northern Territory Queensland border, visiting towns such as Richmond, Mt Isa and Camooweal. On other ocassions Roma, Mitchell, Goondiwindi, St George, Sarina and Emerald are only some of the many other towns I travelled to during my campaign. I also campaigned in NSW for our candidate there. In fact I arrived back home on the eve of the election, after a trip to Cairns, to deliver how to vote cards to a supporter at 9.30pm, because McDonald failed to do his job properly. Let alone the many other complaints I have received since.

I can assure all members and supporters that everything I have done is aboveboard but I will not be beholding to people that I don't trust. At the end of the day it is my name and credibility that is at stake here. According to the article, John Pasquarelli has notified the federal police. John has an issue with me for dumping him during the campaign. I have been imprisoned once on trumped up charges and lies. Does anyone truly believe that I would give the establishment any reason to imprison me again?

To all my supporters thank you for your loyality and trust.

Yours Sincerely,

WHERE TO FROM HERE

Since the November 2007 election, I have had a much needed break to reflect on what I wish to achieve with regards to Australian politics in the future. What is important is that we as Australians have the right to voice our opinions and concerns openly and honestly without fear or favour.

My life and that of my children is determined by our politicians. Those people who have been given the job of representing our nation and its people. Their job is to make decisions that should benefit our way of life and standard of living. We all know of political corruption, multinational takeovers and greed regardless of lives that may be destroyed or changed forever.

The world is changing and I will not deny that. But with change we must make sure it is for the better. I don't want Australia to be locked away or deny those who wish to come here for a better way of life providing they want to be Australian and embrace our culture, laws and traditions.

I will be writing my personal political comments on this website with regards to issues that I feel are important and informative to all Australians.

My love is for my country and I am a proud Australian. I will not apologise to anyone for my beliefs, concerns and my straight talk. I don't intend to sugar coat issues but will tell it the way I see it, with honesty and integrity.

My determination to keep going is due to the support and encouragement shown to me over the years. To these people I am extremely grateful.