
1. Bizarre scenes unfold in Parliament as Pauline Hanson accused of sexual harassment.
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Burston and James Ashby have clashed at Parliament House following claims of alleged sexual harassment involving Pauline Hanson https://t.co/uANhp6deRt @Chambersgc
— The Australian (@australian) February 13, 2019
Pauline Hanson has laughed off claims she sexually harassed United Australia Party Senator Brian Burston, saying “I’m not desperate”.
But it was no laughing matter for Senator Burston who was involved in a physical clash with her One Nation adviser James Ashby in Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.
The Australian newspaper published images showing the pair in a physical clash on Wednesday night, after Senator Burston had earlier accused One Nation leader Pauline Hanson of sexually harassing him.
Senator Burston told News Corp Australia Mr Ashby ran up to him as he and his wife were leaving a dinner function and Mr Ashby, Ms Hanson’s chief of staff, put a phone close to his face.
An image supplied by Senator Burston appeared to show his hand with blood on it from cuts the senator said happened when he tried to grab Mr Ashby’s phone.
“I told him to f*** off,” Senator Burston told News Corp, adding that he tried unsuccessfully to grab the phone.
Senator Burston said Mr Ashby pursued him and his wife.
“I lost it,” the senator said.
“I grabbed him and I pushed him up against the wall.”
Senator Burston said he had reported the incident to Australian Federal Police.
He denied involvement with bloody marks that were found on Ms Hanson’s office door.