PERILS OF PAULINE CONTINUES................................
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party split over gay outburst
The Australian 12:00AM January 9, 2017
Geoff Chambers
The split within Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has widened after her chief adviser James Ashby — supported by Senator Hanson — dumped an outspoken Queensland candidate over anti-gay comments.
Shan Ju Lin, who is president of the World Harmony Society, yesterday accused Mr Ashby of filtering contact with Senator Hanson after she was disendorsed 24 hours after posting that “gays should be treated as patients” and “receive treatment”.
On Saturday, The Weekend Australian revealed a growing divide within One Nation between the old guard of the party, Senator Hanson and Mr Ashby.
The public falling out between Senator Hanson and former One Nation senator Rod Culleton, combined with the departure of former senior officials Ian Nelson and Saraya Beric, has sparked public attacks against Mr Ashby’s influence within the party.
Ms Lin said the article she posted on Facebook about a homosexual couple who had been accused of sexually abusing foster children in their care was taken down after she was alerted they had been found not guilty.
“This disendorsement decision has come as a complete surprise as One Nation has no policy to be adhered to on this issue except for that of a referendum on gay marriage whereby the community would have its say,” Ms Lin wrote on Facebook. “The speed of the disendorsement decision — without any chance to defend myself — has also been remarkable.
“At no time have I been able to speak directly with Pauline Hanson and therefore I have not had the ability to check what has been related to her about the matter. All candidates are only able to contact her via her chief of staff, James Ashby, who then replies back on her behalf.”
Ms Lin, who claimed she had received support from others in the party, suggested the “alleged issue was far more important to Mr Ashby than the membership or executive of One Nation”.
“My wholehearted support for Pauline Hanson remains, and I look forward to the internal issues within One Nation being finally resolved for good,” she said.
In response, Mr Ashby said “there’s nothing further to add” as One Nation prepared for a statewide blitz at the Queensland election. “I’ve been made aware of the comments. I’d be asking Ms Lin if she’s had talks with Ian Nelson,” Mr Ashby said.
In response, Mr Nelson said: “I honestly haven’t spoken to her. I don’t even know the lady. I admire her but I have not spoken with her.”
Liberal National Party and Labor Party strategists expect One Nation to poll strongly in regional electorates, following a solid vote at last year’s federal election. Senator Hanson said she revoked Ms Lin’s endorsement on Saturday night after asking for the suspension of her social media page and ordering the party executive to review her suitability as candidate. Because Ms Lin was overseas, party officials wrote to her on Facebook, but they claim more “disparaging comments appeared” on her social media page.
Ms Lin had stated to One Nation executive members, “once the gays realise they can put pressure on a candidate they will start to target other One Nation candidates also”.
Following the exchange, Senator Hanson called for “an immediate end to Shan Ju Lin’s endorsement”. “I will not stand by and allow people to trash the party or my name, so I make no apologies for being tough on candidates,” Senator Hanson said.
One Nation candidate Peter Rogers, who will contest the north Queensland seat held by Treasurer Curtis Pitt, told supporters “infighting” breeds contempt.
Mr Rogers, who ran for One Nation at the federal election, said “negative energy” was impacting the party’s objective to “make a difference in Queensland”.
“The main key to success here is to understand that One Nation state elections are just that … One Nation state elections … Pauline and James are with the federal side of One Nation,” Mr Rogers posted on Facebook.
“When there is infighting it breeds contempt and I myself don’t want to be involved in what he or she says … I am in this to take my bloody country back and I don’t care what anyone else says about anything.
“We have a direction people and it’s about time we followed it and forget all the other crap.”
The Australian understands Ms Lin — who was vying for the ALP-held seat of Bundamba, had last year tried but failed to win Labor endorsement for the council ward of Runcorn. Ms Lin had also run for Katter’s Australian Party at the federal election.
Last month, Gold Coast man Andy Semple withdrew his nomination after claiming One Nation had attempted to make him remove an offensive post on one of his social media accounts.
Ms Lin, who said she was overseas, could not be contacted yesterday.