One Nation's South Australian leader, Cory Bernardi, has repaid more than A$40,000 (£20,837) to Gina Rinehart's company S Kidman & Co for private flights used during the state election campaign. The reimbursement was made to comply with new state laws banning political parties and candidates from accepting electoral donations or gifts from individuals, businesses or unions.
Bernardi, who was elected to South Australia's legislative council in March, confirmed the payment on Saturday. He said the flights, which took him between Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Maitland and Coober Pedy, were 'worth every cent' as they allowed One Nation to engage with remote and regional communities.
The flights were also used by One Nation's federal leader, Pauline Hanson, on 14 and 15 March. Hanson thanked S Kidman & Co's chief executive, Adam Giles, on her federal register of interests. Under South Australian law, the A$5,000 cap on individual donations applies to gifts used for state election purposes, but gifts for federal purposes fall under Commonwealth law. Hanson claimed she was merely a 'passenger' and that the liability was Bernardi's.
Hanson has faced scrutiny over undeclared travel from Rinehart's companies, updating her register at least five times in six months. She has denied being financially reliant on Rinehart, but Barnaby Joyce, who defected from the Nationals to One Nation, told the Saturday Paper that Rinehart was a donor to the party.
The ban on political donations in South Australia is a world-first reform, carrying a penalty of A$50,000 or up to 10 years' imprisonment.
