Nationalist activist Thomas Sewell has spoken out about running into One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce at a Canberra bar, confirming it was a “chance encounter” after the White Australia Party’s High Court challenge earlier this month.
Mr Sewell commented on the interaction after Mr Joyce denied claims made to far-left news website Crikey that he and Mr Sewell had arrived at Canberra Casino together, sat and spoke for two hours, and then left together.
“Now, the story that they’re running around is that I arrived with them. That’s a lie. There was an organised meeting with them. That’s a lie. I left with them. That’s a lie. Did I actually even know who they were when they came up? No, I didn’t,” Mr Joyce told News24 on Wednesday morning.
Barnaby Joyce being questioned about his interactions with Tom Sewell and Auspill.
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The two-time former deputy prime minister also claimed he did not know who Mr Sewell was, and told 2GB radio he ended the conversation when Mr Sewell and his group brought up “Anglo Saxon immigration and Pauline Hanson [and said] they didn’t like her”.
Mr Sewell said in a statement shared on his Telegram channel that he was at the casino on September 9 after the White Australia Party’s challenge to Labor’s prohibited hate group laws, when he bumped into Mr Joyce and rugby league star Matt Adamson.
“We had a private conversation that lasted approximately 30 minutes in which a number of subjects arose,” Mr Sewell wrote.
“I cannot divulge the details of a private conversation between two men and respect that what was said to me was not to be used as political opportunism or attention seeking – hence I made no public brag about it.
“It is fitting now that I acknowledge that the coincidental meeting did take place, and respect Barnaby’s right to disavow any association with controversial characters such as myself.”
Thomas Sewell says if the White Australia Party wins its High Court case, it will assist the creation of a Pauline Hanson prime ministership.
“Keep Pauline honest”
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Mr Sewell also said he stood by comments he made after the two-day hearing, where he stated that if the White Australia Party’s “hate group” ban was overturned by the court, the party would seek to help One Nation form government.
“I wish to reiterate that in the instance that the High Court accepts our constitutional right to form the White Australia Party, that we would encourage those who vote for us to also preference a One Nation government,” he said.
“I believe that a Pauline Hanson prime ministership is a step in the right direction for the country, and Australians need to break the uniparty system that has betrayed us.”
A decision on the White Australia Party case is expected by the end of the year, and the High Court’s ruling will determine whether the government is able to ban rival political parties under legislation passed with the help of the Coalition in response to the Bondi Islamic terrorist attack.
Labor used the laws to ban the White Australia Party on May 15, making it an offence to lead, be a member of, train, fund or support the group, punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Header image: Left, Mr Sewell after the High Court case (beckonthedawn). Right, Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson (One Nation).
