Australia's ex-One Nation leader convicted of fraud

A right-wing Australian politician has been convicted of fraudulently setting up a political party.

A right-wing Australian politician has been convicted of fraudulently setting up a political party.

Pauline Hanson (49), and another party official, David Ettridge (58), had pleaded not guilty to fraudulently registering One Nation.

She also denied obtaining almost €300,000 in electoral funds to pay for her campaign in the 1998 Queensland state election but was found guilty on all counts.

She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and will likely be barred from standing again for parliament.

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During sentencing submissions, Hanson said: "Yes, I'm still very innocent of the charges and I believe the prosecution has not proven the case against me or David Ettridge."

She then snapped: "Rubbish, I'm not guilty ... it's a joke."

Hanson once won a seat in federal parliament by denouncing Asian immigration and welfare payments to Aborigines.

One Nation won almost 10 per cent of the vote in the 1998 national elections and close to 25 per cent in a state election in the same year.

AP