QLD: Qld government to consider Sharples request

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
QLD: Qld government to consider Sharples request

BRISBANE, Aug 25 AAP - The Queensland government is considering a request from former One
Nation member Terry Sharples to take over his legal battle with the party.

Mr Sharples, who led the court challenge resulting in the deregistration of One Nation in
Queensland, said he could not go further following One Nation's decision to appeal the Supreme
Court ruling that it used fraud and misrepresentation to register as a political party.

He said the 15-month case had already cost him $25,000 personally and he was facing more
than $70,000 in additional legal costs.

"I have promised my wife we would not spend a cent more on this ... and if that means that
the appeal fails, then (the government) will have to answer to the people," Mr Sharples said.

"The attorney general should now fund the case completely, if not take it over ... It's
really a case that he should have always run on behalf of this state."

Mr Sharples accused the state government of "riding on his coat tails" by considering
challenging the election of 11 One Nation MPs to state parliament.

"My decision was to fight on and I have been vindicated by that through the courts, but I
am not going to put my family under any more pressure. I am not going to spend any more money
privately to do that."

A spokesman for Attorney-General Matt Foley said Mr Sharples' request was being considered.

AAP jfs/jnb

KEYWORD: NATION SHARPLES DAYLEAD

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