WA: Hanson verdict a tragedy says WA Upper House MP
PERTH, Aug 20 AAP - One Nation founder Pauline Hanson was guilty only of naivety, notelectoral fraud, West Australian One Nation MP Frank Hough said today.
Mr Hough was commenting after a Brisbane District Court jury found Ms Hanson and partyco-founder David Ettridge guilty of fraudulently registering One Nation in Queenslandin 1997.
Hanson also was found guilty of dishonestly obtaining almost $500,000 in electoralreimbursements after the 1998 state election.
"I think she has been hounded into prison, basically. All she is guilty of is naivetyand inexperience," said Mr Hough, a WA Upper House MP.
"I think the party will become stronger after this, and, although myself and Paulinehave fallen out, I would not wish this on anyone."
Prosecutor Brendan Campbell is seeking the maximum jail sentence for both Hanson andEttridge, with Hanson facing up to 10 years' jail.
Mr Hough said he feared the severity of the sentence, following other examples of high-profileconvictions in Queensland, including the one-year sentence for chief magistrate DianeFingleton.
"Other parliamentarians who have been convicted in Queensland have copped the maximum,and that is what Pauline may well get."
AAP tc/sd/cjh/bwl
KEYWORD: HANSON VERDICT WA
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