Extract from ABC News
Updated
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LNP Leader Tim Nicholls has denied a deal was done with One Nation. (ABC News: Patrick Williams)
Further evidence has emerged in relation to claims of
a private deal between One Nation and the LNP ahead of the next
Queensland election, the ABC can reveal.
On Monday night, Four Corners aired a secretly recorded phone call
in which Pauline Hanson's chief of staff James Ashby told Queensland
candidates he had struck a private agreement with the LNP for the two
parties not to criticise each other."I got a phone call this morning from the chief of staff of [Opposition Leader] Tim Nicholls," Mr Ashby said in the recording.
"I have an agreement with the Liberal National Party, I've made one commitment to them, one agreement and I'll be up front with you — I've made a commitment that we will not go out there and slag them for the sake of slagging them."
After Four Corners went to air, Mr Nicholls responded on social media denying the claims, saying his chief of staff had never spoken to Mr Ashby, had never met him and did not know who he was.
But it turns out Mr Ashby was referring to Mr Nicholls' senior policy advisor, Peter Coulson, rather than the LNP leader's chief of staff, Gerard Benedet.
In an extended excerpt of the recorded phone hook-up, Mr Ashby said: "I'm asking you not to go slagging off the Liberal National Party. Peter Coulson rang me this morning and reminded me of our agreement because he said to me we have been very kind to you and not slagged you off".
"But I also kindly reminded him if they choose to change that agreement we have plenty of ammunition on their candidates as well which pulled his head in a little bit," Mr Ashby said.
Mr Nicholls has repeatedly said there are "no deals to be done" with One Nation, however his office has declined to comment on the latest development.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday said questions about the recording needed to be answered by One Nation and Mr Nicholls.
"Obviously some startling revelations about deals and preferences and everything," she said.
She said Mr Nicholls appeared to have more questions to answer about his denial of Mr Ashby's claims.
"That's a matter for him but obviously there are voice recordings that state otherwise."
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