'We can find no proof' says National Party President as Jami-Lee Ross accuses leader of breaking electoral law over donations

October 16, 2018

Mr Ross made a number of claims about the National Party leader in relation to donations. Mr Bridges has denied any wrongdoing.

National Party President Peter Goodfellow says the party can find no proof of accusations made by Jami-Lee Ross today about the handling of its political donations, and says the party complies with the Electoral Act.

The MP for Botany today dropped bombshells, resigning as an MP, saying he believes party leader Simon Bridges is "a corrupt politician" and alleging he broke electoral law over donations.

He said Mr Bridges asked him to split a $100,000 donation from a wealthy Chinese businessman into smaller donations so it wouldn't have to be declared and become public.

Mr Bridges slammed the MP’s claims as "baseless" and Mr Goodfellow late this afternoon took a similar stance.

"We can find no proof of the accusations and assertions made by Jami-Lee Ross today in regard to the handling of our political donations," the party president said in a statement.

"The allegations made by Mr Ross appear inconsistent with the donor information we have to date, including information previously supplied by Mr Ross," he said.

"We understand Mr Ross will be taking his allegations to the Police, and we invite him to do so. 

"The National Party complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act, and our donations are comprehensively audited by a third party every year," Mr Goodfellow concluded.

Fronting media earlier today, Mr Ross said he had a recorded conversation with Mr Bridges about the alleged events and would be taking the tape to police tomorrow.

Mr Bridges encouraged Mr Ross to go ahead and report the matter to the police.

The National Party leader today made a statement defending his position and welcoming a police inquiry into claims of electoral donation fraud.

National MPs today voted unanimously to expel Jami-Lee Ross from caucus, but Mr Ross got in first, announcing his resignation while the caucus was still meeting to discuss his future.

Following an investigation, Mr Bridges yesterday named Mr Ross as the leaker of his travel expenses.

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