News Service from House Harris

Fed: Reforming political donations system will stop Hanson rorting it:MP

CANBERRA, March 16 AAP - Reforming Australia's political donations system is necessary to stop candidates, such as Pauline Hanson, from rorting it, a Labor backbencher says.

Ms Hanson's motivation for running in the 2007 Queensland Senate campaign was money, Shayne Neumann told parliament on Monday.

Earlier this month, Queensland police confirmed they were investigating Ms Hanson following reports she transferred more than $200,000 from a Pauline's United Australia Party account, designated by the electoral commission, into her personal account following an unsuccessful Senate tilt.

Ms Hanson and One Nation co-founder David Ettridge spent 11 weeks in jail in 2003 for electoral fraud before their convictions were overturned on appeal and they were released.

Speaking on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2009, Mr Neumann said the previous coalition government's relaxation of political donation law allowed Ms Hanson to exploit the system.

"You were the people that all that time allowed the likes of Ms Hanson to actually rort the system when it came to standing for the Senate, doing nothing," Mr Neumann said.

"I know because she lives in my area and I saw her great contribution in the 2007 campaign - a few signs up in a few trees, no real campaigning in the electorate."

The draft law requires donations of $1,000 to be publicly disclosed, slashing the threshold from $10,900.

It forces parties and donors to report twice a year, instead of once, and stops donors hiding from scrutiny by spreading gifts across state and territory divisions of parties.

Pauline Hanson is once again in the public spotlight following the publication of nude photographs she says are not of her.

The images come as the 54-year-old One Nation founder contests the Gold Coast hinterland seat of Beaudesert in the March 21 Queensland state election.