Cory Bernardi has said he will pay for multiple flights taken with Pauline Hanson on a plane registered to Gina Rinehart's company, amid confusion over whether the trips may breach South Australia's new laws banning political donations. The state election on Saturday is the first since the laws came into effect, and exemptions to the ban are unclear as parties and the electoral commission navigate the legislation.
The case is complicated by Hanson's status as a federal senator and Bernardi's role as One Nation's lead candidate for the state upper house. On her federal register of interests, Hanson thanked Rinehart's company S Kidman & Co for flights from Archerfield to Adelaide on 14 March, and from Adelaide to Mount Gambier and Maitland on 15 March. Flight tracking shows the plane then went to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Coober Pedy, and back to Adelaide over subsequent days.
When asked about a potential breach, Hanson said Bernardi would pay for the flights. Bernardi confirmed he expected to be billed and would cover the cost. Under the new laws, candidates can accept donations up to $5,000 from individuals, but private planes cost at least $3,000 an hour. Independent candidate Tammy Franks said the laws were designed to stop billionaire influence but appeared to have the opposite effect, creating an uneven playing field.
The SA electoral commission declined to comment on the specific flights but noted that registered political parties without a member of parliament may accept donations up to caps, and donations for federal purposes are exempt. Third parties spending over $10,000 must register, and failure to do so is a criminal offence. Neither Rinehart nor her companies have registered.
