Pauline Hanson wins appeal against former One Nation member Brian Burston after overturning $250,000 in defamation damages

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has won a legal victory after reversing $250,000 in libel damages after making allegations about the conduct of an ex-NSW senator.

Ms Hanson was ordered to pay the sum in October after the Federal Court said her comments on the Nine’s Today program in March 2019 were “seriously damaging” to Brian Burston’s reputation.

As well as falsely alleging that Burston had sexually assaulted a female colleague, Ms Hanson also falsely alleged that he assaulted One Nation Chief of Staff James Ashby at Parliament House without provocation, Judge Robert Bromwich said at the time.

But the findings and damages were rejected by the full court on Wednesday following a successful appeal by Ms Hanson.

Mr Burston was also ordered to pay the One Nation leader’s legal fees for the libel suit and appeal.

The One Nation leader made comments about former member Brian Burston (pictured), falsely claiming he had sexually assaulted a female colleague and assaulted One Nation Chief of Staff James Ashby in Parliament House without provocation

In his earlier judgment, Judge Bromwich was scathing of Mr Burston’s general conduct, calling it ‘objectively wrong and inappropriate’.

The ex-senator’s behavior included telling a female staffer, “You probably just need a good fuck.”

During the seven-day libel trial, the court heard Mr Burston hug the face of another staffer before giving her a “long, hard kiss” and on another occasion shoving $100 between her breasts.

Ms Hanson filed a countersuit in federal court in November 2020, alleging that Mr Burston’s defamation suit and sexual harassment allegations against her amounted to discrimination.

That case is still pending.