Pauline Hanson's chief of staff James Ashby has vowed to contact police over a secret recording in which he appeared to discuss possible ways One Nation could profit from the upcoming Queensland election, Mr Ashby has admitted to a "poor choice of words" during the brainstorming talks, which were recorded some time last year.
"They were quite clearly secret recordings, it captured some off-guard comments, there's only one thing I regret and that's a poor choice of words," he told AAP on Monday.
Listen to the Ashby recording and Hinch's response
Pauline Hanson's Chief of Staff is caught up in a scandal - a recording reveals that he planned to make money from the Queensland election. pic.twitter.com/B3o8rSG2f9 — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) May 21, 2017
He claimed the conversation had been recorded illegally by a disaffected staff member and said the party would refer the matter to police.
"This almost has a flavour of blackmail, which has been used over the last 12 months,' he said.
"We'll refer the matter on to police."
According to the Courier-Mail, Mr Ashby is heard to say the party can "make some money" at the upcoming election commission by charging candidates for expenses.
"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.
"The other $2500 is the profit. It's the fat. And I'll write it off. I don't want the cash for it. I will make it as a tax deduction or ..."
When asked how the party would make money, he explains: "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."
There is no evidence the plan was carried out and there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing on Mr Ashby's part.
Mr Ashby now says the conversation was merely brainstorming session and the party never enacted anything discussed in it.
He said the party did not make any money from campaign materials provided to candidates and that banners produced by his own printing company were provided at cost.
"The party makes no money off it."
He said candidates were charged $3500 for campaign materials to ensure quality and consistency.
Crossbench Senator Derryn Hinch labelled the recording "shocking".
"This is unconscionable behaviour, you can't do it," senator Derryn Hinch told the Seven Network on Monday after hearing a recording of the meeting.
Deputy Queensland Premier Jackie Trad said authorities should investigate the recording.
"I think these revelations are startling, and I think Queenslanders should take notice of them," Ms Trad told reporters.
"Clearly if there are issues there in relation to whether electoral laws are being circumvented or they are being used in a way that they weren't intended to be used then that should be looked at."
