Fed: Andrews backs Abbott over One Nation

00-00-0000
Fed: Andrews backs Abbott over One Nation

SYDNEY, Aug 27 AAP - Minister for Ageing Kevin Andrews today backed his cabinet colleagueTony Abbott over revelations the workplace relations minister was involved in bringingdown Pauline Hanson.

Mr Abbott admitted last night he had made what he called flippant remarks to the mediaabout the matter, and apologised for his actions.

Mr Abbott established a trust fund which paved the way for One Nation to be deregisteredin Queensland and for Hanson and co-founder David Ettridge to be jailed last week forelectoral fraud.

But Mr Andrews said Mr Abbott had done nothing wrong.

"I think it's open for any group of individuals within the political system to be ableto act in a way in which they, in the democratic process, seek to bring people to a situationin which they act in accordance with the law," Mr Andrews told reporters in Sydney.

"As I understand it, he said that what he was proposing to do ... was in relation toa civil case to try and determine these actions, and I think that's entirely appropriate."

Mr Andrews said it was a matter for Prime Minister John Howard and Mr Abbott as towhether they would more fully explain the situation to the public.

He said he wasn't prepared to comment any further because he wasn't fully aware of the details.

AAP ld/af/nf/ak/jlw/

KEYWORD: HANSON ABBOTT ANDREWS