Bowman MP Henry Pike says he will “always” remain a Liberal after ABC Four Corners reported billionaire Gina Rinehart allegedly raised the prospect of him joining One Nation during a lunch at her Sunshine Coast holiday home.
Four Corners reported Mr Pike, the LNP’s federal member for Bowman, attended the lunch in January at Mrs Rinehart’s $34 million beach house, where One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, her then chief-of-staff James Ashby and federal MP Barnaby Joyce were also staying.
Coalition sources told the ABC Mrs Rinehart asked Mr Pike whether he was considering joining One Nation or would ever contemplate doing so.
The program reported Mr Pike viewed the conversation as an attempt to recruit him to the party.
Mr Pike declined an interview with Four Corners but issued a statement emphatically ruling out any switch.
“I have enormous respect for Mrs Rinehart and all she has achieved,” he said.
“But I am, and always will be, a Liberal.
“I believe in the Liberal Party, in our leadership, in our values that shaped modern Australia, and in our ability to do it all again.
“Australia’s future is too important for political opportunism.”
Mr Pike has previously held fundraisers hosted by Mrs Rinehart, one of Australia’s wealthiest people and a prominent supporter of Senator Hanson and One Nation.
Mrs Rinehart did not respond to Four Corners’ questions about whether she had sought to recruit Mr Pike or other Coalition MPs.
The report comes amid scrutiny of One Nation’s financial backing, including two reported $500,000 donations from Hancock-related executives Adam Giles and Professor Ian Plimer.
Four Corners reported the Coalition has written to the Albanese Government seeking clarification about whether the donations may have been made on behalf of a third party and whether they should be investigated.
The Australian Electoral Commission told the ABC no official inquiries had been made into the donations, with relevant disclosure returns due by November 17.
Source: ABC Four Corners reporting by Steve Cannane, Alex McDonald and Lara Sonnenschein.
