Federal Politics

Police investigate One Nation staffer Sean Black over assault allegations

A top One Nation figure touted as a future leader of the party in its Queensland heartland is being investigated by police over assault allegations.

Sean Black, media and policy adviser to outspoken One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, is the subject of a complaint of alleged assault lodged with Queensland Police in August, Fairfax Media can reveal.

"Queensland Police received a complaint in relation to this matter," a police spokesman said. "At this stage no one has been charged.

"Investigations into the complaint are continuing."

Details of the allegations cannot be reported for legal reasons. Mr Black declined to comment on the allegations.

Mr Black has long been a controversial figure in Queensland politics, starting out in the 1990s as a Labor operative tasked with destroying Pauline Hanson's party when she burst onto the scene.

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He was forced out of the ALP for his role in a vote-rigging scandal detailed in the Shepherdson corruption inquiry – although he was never charged – and subsequently gravitated towards conservative politics.

In 2008, he was elected to the Logan City Council, where he was accused of bullying and flying into fits of uncontrollable rage.

At one stage, he was banned from entering council chambers or dealing with staff after a string of complaints of intimidation.

The mayor at the time said he had a "sad history of unacceptable behaviour" and ordered special security arrangements for any meetings he attended. Colleagues said he was disruptive and chaotic.

At the time Mr Black admitted to raising his voice and swearing but said the ban was a result of his political enemies trying to silence him.

With One Nation on track to make big gains at the next Queensland election, sources say Mr Black is in the frame as a potential state leader.

While his four years on Logan City Council were tumultuous, he is one of the precious few One Nation figures with experience in elected office.

If One Nation does pick up a swag of seats at the election, expected late next year, the party can end up form a governing coalition with the Liberal National Party, an arrangement that may result in One Nation ministers.

On his Facebook page, Mr Black has admitted to struggling to control his temper, including last year when he launched into a foul-mouthed rant and threw a coaster at a man wearing an offensive T-shirt about Tony Abbott.

"So today I snapped," he wrote. "Our greatest prime minister, Tony Abbott, is being taunted, derided and dis­respected. I've had a gut full of pansy conservatives who won't stick up for freedom, Tony, or our nation. Time to grow balls and pick some fights folks."

Mr Black is also the former husband of Hajnal Ban, a former LNP figure who came to public attention when it was revealed she travelled to Russia for radical bone-breaking cosmetic surgery to make her taller.

Known as "Blackban", they were touted at the time as a future conservative power couple but divorced after a few years.

Senator Roberts was also contacted for comment.

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