Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge have both been found guilty of electoral fraud charges and jailed for three years.
Hanson, 49, and Ettridge, 58, pleaded not guilty to fraudulently registering One Nation in Queensland on December 4, 1997. Hanson also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly obtaining nearly $500,000 in electoral funding after the 1998 Queensland state election.
After deliberating for nine hours, a Brisbane District Court jury found the pair guilty on all counts.
Judge Patsy Wolfe made no recommendation for parole.
After the verdict was delivered, Hanson angrily said: “Rubbish, I’m not guilty. It’s a joke.”
The trial of the former One Nation leader and its co-founder lasted for 23 days.
Hanson and Ettridge were accused of pretending that a list of around 500 members of a Pauline Hanson support movement were members of the party. Their names were used in an application for party registration to Queensland’s Electoral Commission. Registration of a party requires proof of more than 500 members.
- Listen to the 6pm ABC radio news report the court decision:
- Listen to David Oldfield comment on Virginia Trioli’s ABC radio show:
- Listen to The 7.30 Report on the court decision:
