2003
A political furore has erupted over revelations that one of the Howard Government's most senior ministers, Tony Abbott, set up a slush fund to pay for legal challenges to Pauline Hanson and her party, One Nation.
Despite repeated denials back in 1998, Mr Abbott last night acknowledged to the 'Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper he'd raised almost $100,000 in an attempt to fund actions against One Nation.
While he and his colleagues were refusing to make any comment today, the admission is a setback for the Government.
It clearly suggests Mr Abbott did not tell the truth in the affair at the time, and has provoked government fears of a backlash from voters responding angrily to Pauline Hanson's jailing.
Then, today, Mr Abbott's stalking horse, One Nation dissident Terry Sharples, claimed that the PM was also aware of the machinations.
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s932651.htm
