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A new secretly-recorded phone conversation has emerged of property developer and One Nation donor Bill McNee urging a few "home truths" be delivered to Pauline Hanson about the direction of the party.
The call allegedly took place with former party treasurer Ian Nelson on December 3 and has been provided to the ABC's 7.30 program.
Mr McNee was surprised to hear Mr Nelson claim Senator Hanson's chief of staff, James Ashby, was responsible for pushing him out, along with another former staffer, Saraya Beric.
One Nation has disputed Mr Nelson's claims, saying the pair are angry after being passed over for key positions.
Mr McNee did not deny it was him on the recording when contacted by the ABC, but declined to comment further.
"What do you mean James got you kicked out?" Mr McNee said on the recording with Mr Nelson.
"Ian, don't take this lying down. You and Saraya, you're smarter than that. You know her well. Go and have a f**king coffee with her [Senator Hanson] or something, mate. Seriously, go and remind her of a few f**king home truths."
"Away from Mr Ashby," Mr Nelson said.
"Yeah."
'I thought Pauline was more strong-minded'
In the recording Mr Nelson also said Senator Hanson was being strongly influenced by Mr Ashby.
"I thought Pauline was a bit more strong-minded than that," Mr McNee responded.
"You've got to bide your time and everyone hangs themselves ultimately if that's what his [Mr Ashby's] behaviour is," he advised.
During the call Mr Nelson probed as to whether Mr McNee paid for One Nation's light aircraft.
Mr McNee denied buying the plane.
"This is confidential, I'm not going to say a word to anyone else," Mr Nelson said. "I thought you did donate a plane to us?"
"No, no, no," Mr McNee responded. "I made those [other] donations and that was it and I ran out of money and walked away."
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is investigating whether One Nation breached any disclosure laws after Mr Nelson's allegation last month on Four Corners that Mr McNee paid for the aircraft used during the 2016 election campaign.
One Nation has denied breaching electoral laws.
However the party has provided conflicting stories about the ownership of the plane and now says Mr Ashby purchased it privately without Mr McNee.
When contacted by the ABC, Mr McNee said he had made it clear he did not donate the plane.
"There's an AEC investigation going on at the moment and all of that will be revealed," he said.
"We've been upfront and honest with respect to that matter and we'll let it take its course."
'I think he's embarrassed'
Despite Mr McNee's denial, Mr Nelson told 7.30 he was adamant Mr McNee gave the plane to the party.
"I think he's embarrassed, very embarrassed," Mr Nelson said.
Mr Nelson claimed a secret recording he made of a phone conversation with Senator Hanson proved Mr McNee did donate the plane.
During the conversation in November, Senator Hanson asked Mr Nelson how a newspaper journalist found out about Mr McNee's financial contributions.
"We've got word there's a story coming out in The Australian [newspaper] tomorrow and they've actually been told that Bill McNee actually donated the money to pay up front for the office for the year and for the plane," she said.
"Who the bloody hell did they get that off?" Mr Nelson replied.
Senator Hanson responded: "They've already rung Bill and asked him and he said, 'Yep, but I've donated to a lot of parties'."
Then the pair discussed which One Nation insider could have leaked the information.
Senator Hanson: "Who knows Bill's name? No-one, we always kept it very quiet.
She continues: Who knows that he paid the money upfront for the office?"
Mr Nelson: "I have no idea."
Senator Hanson: "There was only the four of us who knew. It was tight-knit."
The four believed to be referred to are Senator Hanson, her chief of staff James Ashby, Mr Nelson and Ms Beric.
Topics: one-nation, pauline-hanson, political-parties, brisbane-4000, australia
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