Pauline Hanson has slammed claims she used One Nation funds to pay for a five-star hotel in London while in Europe as fake news.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Hanson used party funds to pay for a five-star London hotel during her recent European trip, including keeping rooms vacant while she flew to Italy with mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.
In July, the Queensland senator travelled between the UK and Italy, attending the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show and interviewing British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Hanson stayed at the Conrad London St James hotel while in the city, where an average room during peak season can cost $860 per night.
A source told The Sydney Morning Herald reporter Paul Sakkal that One Nation insiders believed the costs for Hanson and her aide, James Ashby, would be funded from consolidated party revenue.
A second source, described by the Herald as an ‘insider’, said Hanson had paid for the rooms and left them vacant for five nights while she flew to Italy to meet Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart.
They claimed there had been some unease within One Nation regarding the alleged decision to use party money after the $5million ‘Fire the Liar’ campaign had been so successful.
But on Monday, Hanson hit back at the claims.
Pauline Hanson (pictured at Blenheim Palace) has blasted accusations she used One Nation funds to pay for a five-star hotel in London while on holiday in Europe
Hanson reportedly stayed at the Conrad London St James hotel while in the city, where an average room during peak season can cost £450 ($860) per night
‘When mainstream media publish lies, it only diminishes their trust with the Australian public,’ she said.
‘Expedia invoices prove that allegations made in the SMH are false. One Nation HQ have provided copies of those invoices.’
She said every dollar raised through her ‘Fire the Liar’ campaign to oust Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been set aside for use at the next federal election.
‘I can also confirm that Fire the Liar funds have been quarantined to fight Labor at the next election.
‘Sources who lie should be outed, Paul Sakkal. They only make you look sloppy.’
Hanson has previously stated she did not use the party’s fund, created by 80,000 supporters, to pay for her trip to Europe.
‘It didn’t cost the taxpayer one cent for my trip overseas. Not one cent,’ she told a Seven West Media event at the end of July.
Hanson’s flights from London to Sicily via Rome, and back again, as well as her attendance at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion event in Sicily, were funded by Mrs Rinehart, according to the senator’s parliamentary register of interests.
Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson claimed Hanson used One Nation funds for the hotel
Pauline Hanson is pictured at the CPAC Great Britain summit in London on July 17
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She reported paying for accommodation, meals and daily expenses herself during the July 11 to 16 trip, according to the register.
Asked for his thoughts on the Sydney Morning Herald report, shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said it does not pass the pub test.
‘We have people who donate to her party from their limited savings,’ he told Nine’s Today show on Friday.
‘They’re struggling to get ahead, and now we find it’s going towards luxury hotel rooms in London. Dolce and Gabbana fashion shows.
‘I’m starting to see images of global elite, and this seems like a pretty clear betrayal of the people she claims to represent.’
But independent MP Dai Le told the Today show she does not think voters will care, adding ‘they have got party rules and how you spend party funds, that’s up to the party’.
‘Let’s focus on really what matters to people in Australia and that is absolutely the cost of living, cost of the rising fuel,’ she said.
