Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party scored tickets to Donald Trump's inauguration only after continued pestering from its Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts, it has been revealed.
One Nation senators gloated about the supposed invitation earlier this week, which they said had come from a Republican congressman in the US state of Illinois, Adam Kinzinger.
At a news conference in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he doubts US President-elect Donald Trump met with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room, referring to an unverified dossier published last week.
President Barack Obama says he remains worried the prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are waning due to growing Israeli settlement of the West Bank, saying the "status quo is unsustainable".
In his final news conference, President Barack Obama wishes former President George Bush Snr and Barbara Bush well after news that both were hospitalized before emphasising the need for a free press.
Up Next
Obama defends commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence
Obama defends commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence
President Barack Obama defends his decision to commute the sentence of convicted intelligence leaker Chelsea Manning, telling reporters at his final press conference that "justice has been served."
Set your alarm early Saturday to watch the Donald Trump pledge the oath sworn by all 44 US presidents as part of three days of traditional ceremony.
Brian Burston, who will fly to Washington to attend the ceremony on the party's behalf, had told Fairfax Media the tickets were organised through an adviser to Senator Roberts, Darren Brady Nelson, who formerly worked for the Trump campaign.
But a spokesperson for Mr Kinzinger told Buzzfeed News the congressman had accommodated a request for an invitation from the Australian embassy in Washington, and granted them the tickets "to use as they wish".
"'Received' an invite and 'invited' are very different things": One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts. Photo: Andrew Meares
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed Senator Roberts had repeatedly sought an invitation to the ceremony through Australian officials.
"Following multiple requests from Senator Roberts, the embassy in Washington asked a number of congressional offices if they had any spare tickets available," DFAT said.
Advertisement
"On 13 January, Congressman Kinzinger's office advised they had two tickets available. The tickets are not yet available for collection."
Senator Hanson, One Nation's leader, had labelled the invitation a "gift" and "an honour" on social media, before publicly announcing that she would not attend due to domestic commitments. Within hours, she announced Senator Burston would attend instead.
Malcolm Roberts met with US ambassador Joe Hockey ahead of spending Christmas with his wife's family. Photo: Facebook
However, he took to Twitter to disparage Buzzfeed's report as "fake news", and claimed that One Nation had never bragged about being invited to the ceremony.
"Never said we were invited, just that we had 'invitations' and 'were gifted tickets'," he told followers. "'Received' an invite and 'invited' are very different things."
Mr Trump's inauguration ceremony takes place on January 20 in Washington. Senator Burston has promised he will pay for his own flights and accommodation.