Hanson happy with commission promise

Pauline Hanson has won an agreement from the NSW electoral commission that it won't destroy emails her lawyer says will show state election ballots were not counted, denying her a seat in parliament.

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Pauline Hanson has won an agreement from the NSW electoral commission that it won't destroy emails her lawyer says will show state election ballots were not counted, denying her a seat in parliament.

In a brief hearing before Justice Peter Johnson in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Ms Hanson's lawyer David Leamey said he had reached the agreement with legal representatives at the commission.

Outside the court, Ms Hanson, who had run for an upper house seat, told reporters she was happy her lawyer had reached an agreement.

"I'm happy with that," she said.

"The people should know as soon as possible, and they tend to address this issue as soon as possible.

"We're talking about a seat in parliament, and the people have a right to know it's being sorted out."

Ms Hanson also encouraged any other candidates who had a grievance over the counting of ballots to join her.

"Anyone else who was a candidate and has a grievance as well can join me on this matter," she said.

Ms Hanson claims the miscounting of 1200 ballots cast at the March 26 state election cost her an upper house seat.

Earlier on Thursday she had lodged a challenge in the NSW Supreme Court to the count for the Legislative Council, alleging a source within the commission had told her of the missing 1200 votes.

"The NSW Electoral Commission knew about the incorrect sorting of valid votes for her into the blank pile and that it was thought that at least 1200 votes could be involved," the petition states.

Mr Leamey had called for an urgent discovery of reports, emails and documents in the possession of the NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry relating to the 1200 Hanson votes.

The case will return to the same court on May 16.


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Source: AAP


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