Flying fists, a bloodstained door and a busted thumb: Inside the violent clash between Pauline Hanson's top adviser and a One Nation defector who accused her of sexual harassment
- Senator Brian Burston and One Nation adviser James Ashby clashed in Canberra
- Heated confrontation came amid sexual harassment claims and counterclaims
- Pictures showed pair grappling at Parliament House after function, Wednesda
- Senator Burston said he later reported the incident to Australian Federal Police
- It came after Ms Hanson accused unnamed senator of sexually harassing staff
- On Wednesday, Senator Burston outed himself as person she was referring to
- He went on to claim he left One Nation after being harassed by Senator Hanson
A Senator who sensationally quit One Nation has violently clashed with Pauline Hanson's top adviser at Parliament House amid bombshell claims and counterclaims of sexual harassment.
The heated confrontation between United Australia Party Senator Brian Burston and One Nation adviser James Ashby unfolded after a function in Canberra on Wednesday.
Pictures showed the pair grappling with each other after Senator Burston, who left One Nation last year, accused Senator Hanson of sexually harassing him in the past.
Senator Burston shared images of his bloodstained hand, which was later seen in bandages.
The heated confrontation between United Australia Party Senator Brian Burston (right) and One Nation adviser James Ashby (left) unfolded in Canberra on Wednesday
Senator Burston shared images of his bloodstained hand (pictured) following the confrontation
Pictures showed the pair grappling with each other after Senator Burston (left), who left One Nation last year, accused Senator Hanson of sexually harassing him in the past
Mr Ashby later provided a photo which he claimed showed the door to Senator Hanson's office smeared in blood, but Senator Burston denied having anything to do with the marks on the door.
Senator Burston claimed the drama began when Mr Ashby approached him as he and his wife were leaving the function.
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He claims he was injured when he tried to grab a phone Mr Ashby was waving in his face.
'I told him to f*** off. I lost it. I grabbed him and I pushed him up against the wall. I defended myself and my wife, physically,' Senator Burston told The Daily Telegraph.
Senator Burston claims he was injured when he tried to grab a phone Mr Ashby was waving in his face.
Mr Ashby later provided a photo (right) which he claimed showed the door to Senator Hanson's office smeared in blood
Senator Burston said he later reported the incident to Australian Federal Police.
The furore erupted after Senator Hanson on Tuesday night used parliamentary privilege to accuse an unnamed senator of sexually harassing at least six staff.
'This gutless wonder we call senator should hang his head in shame,' Senator Hanson told the upper house.
On Wednesday, Senator Burston outed himself as the person she was referring to, telling News Corp it was 'bull***', and went on to claim he had left One Nation after being sexually harassed by Senator Hanson.
Senator Pauline Hanson congratulates One Nation Senator Brian Burston after his maiden speech in the Senate at Parliament House in 2016
One Nation Senator adviser James Ashby at a press conference at Parliament House in 2016
James Ashby behind One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson and then One Nation Senator Brian Burston in 2017
'Right back when we had our first One Nation AGM at the Rooty Hill RSL (in Sydney in 1998), that was the first time she hit on me,' he said.
He claimed Senator Hanson had once 'rubbed her fingers up my spine' while listening to the national anthem and propositioned him after he was elected in 2016 at her home in Queensland and in Canberra.
Senator Hanson denied the allegation.
'I can't stop laughing about it,' Senator Hanson told Sky News on Wednesday night.
'I might be 64 but I'm not desperate.'
Mr Ashby also denied Senator Burston's version of events saying he had been trying to take pictures of Senator Hanson leaving the same function when Senator Burston attacked him.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Senator Hanson and Senator Burston for comment.
Mr Ashby (pictured with Ms Hanson) used his phone to film Mr Burston as he left the Australian Minerals Industry Parliamentary Dinner on Wednesday
Senator Pauline Hanson and former One Nation Senator Brian Burston after the Income Tax vote in the Senate last year
Ms Hanson hit out at the sexual harassment claims as baseless and 'hilarious', saying she wouldn't 'go near him with a barge pole'
- https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/one-nations-pauline-hanson-slams-sexual-harassment-claim-by-united-australia-partys-brian-burston/news-story/cb5718330da4315826ce6aebcbcb4019
- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/one-nation-rift-erupts-in-senate-showdown/news-story/04a44e0fceef3aa916ce61f33ab13c55
- https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/senator-brian-burston-and-one-nation-adviser-james-ashby-clash-in-heated-confrontation/news-story/037eb97a4afeebab52fd47c0b30a2043
- Senator Brian Burston denies offering to have sex with staffer to improve her mood
