One Nation’s James Ashby filmed lobbying for NRA donations

The Australian 7:24 Am March 26, 2019

Richard Ferguson

Pauline Hanson’s right-hand men have been filmed trying to obtain up to $20m in donations from America’s gun lobby.

An Al-Jazeera investigation has filmed the One Nation’s chief of staff James Ashby and the party’s Queensland state leader Steve Dickson in both America and Australia plotting to use the NRA to boost their donations and water down gun laws.

An Al-Jazeera reporter posed as a fake gun lobbyist to approach Mr Ashby and Mr Dickson, and later set up meetings for the two men in Washington with NRA officials.

The revelations about One Nation’s search for US gun lobby money comes in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks and a push on the Liberal Party to put One Nation last on its how-to-vote cards.

In one meeting that was filmed, Mr Dickson told gun lobbyists in the US that One Nation could “have the testicles of the government” if they got the donations and would make watering down gun laws a priority in that instance.

“We get the balance of power, very simply that means that we have the testicles of the government in our hand at every given stage,” Mr Dickson said in a meeting with the NRA.

“And guns, in the scheme of things, are still going to be the be-all and end-all.”

Two months after meeting the NRA, Senator Hanson spoke in favour of a bill which banned foreign donations for more than $250 for Australian political parties.

“Overseas money should not have an influence on our political scene, so I believe that foreign donations should be totally stopped,” Ms Hanson said.

“It’s good that something is going to be done about foreign donations into political parties, but does it go far enough and is it really going to stop it?

“Foreign donations could actually go through Australian subsidiary companies here in Australia, is that going to be picked up?”

That bill was later passed with One Nation’s support.

But before foreign donations were clamped down on, Mr Ashby was filmed saying he wanted to help “rally” gun supporters in Australia and “get my hands on” NRA campaigning software.

“If the NRA want to rally their supporters within Australia, that’s one start,” Mr Ashby said.

“Two, I’d love to get my hands on their software. And three, if they can help us with donations, super.”

Mr Ashby has been banned from parliament after he had a physical scuffle with NSW United Australia Party senator Brian Burston in Parliament House.

Senator Hanson’s office and Mr Ashby have been approached for comment.