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Dumped One Nation candidate claims Pauline Hanson is James Ashby's 'puppet' Dumped One Nation candidate claims Pauline Hanson is James Ashby's 'puppet'
(about 2 hours later)
The leader of One Nation, Pauline Hanson, is facing fresh criticism about the influence of her chief of staff, James Ashby, from a candidate dumped over a controversial website post.The leader of One Nation, Pauline Hanson, is facing fresh criticism about the influence of her chief of staff, James Ashby, from a candidate dumped over a controversial website post.
Peter Rogers, the party’s candidate for the Queensland seat of Mulgrave, has hit out at Hanson over his axing on Friday night, suggesting One Nation had fallen under the control of Ashby.Peter Rogers, the party’s candidate for the Queensland seat of Mulgrave, has hit out at Hanson over his axing on Friday night, suggesting One Nation had fallen under the control of Ashby.
“My personal view is Pauline is the puppet and he [James] is the puppeteer,” Rogers said on Saturday.“My personal view is Pauline is the puppet and he [James] is the puppeteer,” Rogers said on Saturday.
Rogers was dumped over a post alleging the Port Arthur massacre and the death of a Syrian toddler who drowned at sea, which sparked a global outcry last year, were fabrications.Rogers was dumped over a post alleging the Port Arthur massacre and the death of a Syrian toddler who drowned at sea, which sparked a global outcry last year, were fabrications.
He says the post was written without his knowledge by a friend who has control of his website but agrees with the sentiments in relation to Port Arthur.He says the post was written without his knowledge by a friend who has control of his website but agrees with the sentiments in relation to Port Arthur.
“I’ve always believed this is no way one man can do that much damage,” he said, clarifying that he believed the massacre occurred, just that it could not have been the work of a lone shooter.“I’ve always believed this is no way one man can do that much damage,” he said, clarifying that he believed the massacre occurred, just that it could not have been the work of a lone shooter.
Hanson has been contacted for comment but has previously rejected claims she is under Ashby’s control. Hanson took to social media to dismiss Rogers’ claims.
“Regardless of what the media says, I’m the leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and I have the final say on who represents One Nation,” Hanson wrote on Twitter.
One Nation has now lost three candidates since December, when it unveiled a team of 36 to contest the next Queensland election.One Nation has now lost three candidates since December, when it unveiled a team of 36 to contest the next Queensland election.
But the party also scored a major coup with the defection of the former Newman government minister Steve Dickson earlier this month, giving it a toehold in state parliament for the first time since 2009.But the party also scored a major coup with the defection of the former Newman government minister Steve Dickson earlier this month, giving it a toehold in state parliament for the first time since 2009.
And its ranks have been bolstered further by the announcement another Newman government figure, former Thuringowa MP Sam Cox, had jumped ship to join the party.And its ranks have been bolstered further by the announcement another Newman government figure, former Thuringowa MP Sam Cox, had jumped ship to join the party.
Cox, who lost his seat at the 2015 election after one term, will contest the seat of Burdekin at the next election, which is held by the Liberal National party’s Dale Last.Cox, who lost his seat at the 2015 election after one term, will contest the seat of Burdekin at the next election, which is held by the Liberal National party’s Dale Last.