By GREG ROBERTS Wednesday 17 November 1999
Police are intensifying a fraud investigation into the One Nation leader, Mrs Pauline Hanson, and her fellow party directors Mr David Oldfield and Mr David Ettridge.
Under Operation Tier, police have seized documents and interviewed several former One Nation officials in recent weeks.
Mrs Hanson, right, declined to comment on the investigation before leaving Brisbane yesterday for a two-month visit to the United States.
The party's former vice-president, Mr Paul Trewartha, said he had been interviewed by police investigating One Nation's membership records.
Police sources said the investigation was continuing into possible breaches of the criminal code and it was not known when officers might want to interview Mrs Hanson.
Operation Tier was set up as a result of a Queensland Supreme Court finding in August that the party's registration was "induced by fraud or misrepresentation".
Justice Rosalyn Atkinson found that One Nation was "completely controlled" by Mrs Hanson, Mr Oldfield and Mr Ettridge and that the leaders knew the party did not have the 500 members whose names were submitted in its Queensland registration application.
One Nation was struck off Queensland's political register, leaving its five state MPs without a party.
One Nation has appealed against the decision but, to the consternation of some members, Mrs Hanson will not be in Brisbane when the appeal is heard next week.
Mr Oldfield, a NSW upper-house member and the party's vice-president, said police had no reason to interview him. "I have no relationship with the Queensland party in any shape or form."
Mr Ettridge said he and Mrs Hanson had done nothing wrong. "There is nothing for them to interview us about."