Chris Griffith - Page 7, The Courier-Mail, 14th September 2000
Former One Nation director David Ettridge has branded party founder Pauline Hanson "a dud" and a woman partial to "regal declaration".
The denunciation of his former leader was made in an e-mail which was made public, allegedly by mistake.
Mr Ettridge said Ms Hanson's divisive leadership had reduced the party in NSW to just over 100 members.
An apparent computer gaffe by Mr Ettridge on Wednesday meant the e-mail was not sent to former Queensland vice-president Alan Doak as intended. Instead it went to arch-enemy Scott Balson, the party's former webmaster, who made it public yesterday.
The e-mail mix-up began when Mr Doak sent Mr Ettridge a copy of an e-mail by Mr Balson prompting his upcoming book "INSIDE ONE NATION", to be released next month.
Mr Ettridge replied to Mr Doak with his comments about Ms Hanson, but it seems he accidentally checked on the e-mail address of Mr Balson.
"Hi Alan,
"There's nothing very startling in Scott's "grabs" of the book," Mr Ettridge wrote.
"If they represent the controversy then it (the book) is as big a dud as Pauline is...
"Her interference in NSW is already dividing the fan club's members from the party members and is creating the division she has so effectively created in every other state. It may not be long before NSW has only 100 members under her leadership."
Asked if he had made the comments Mr Ettridge said, "Today's your lucky day."
Ms Hanson heard about the e-mail yesterday just hours before she met NSW Upper House MP David Oldfield at Sydney airport to discuss whether he should be thrown off the party's national executive.
The meeting followed the registration of two parties by Mr Oldfield and Mr Ettridge - The No GST Party and the No Nuclear Waste Party - without Ms Hanson's knowledge.
Ms Hanson had little to say about the Ettridge e-mail.
"I've more on my plate than this rubbish," she said.
"I'm not interested and not concerned about it whatsoever."
Asked if she was responsible for the party's diminished support, Ms Hanson said, "I have support Australia-wide from the general public for what I have been saying over the years."
Mr Balson said he would "love to have been a fly on the wall" when Ms Hanson confronted Mr Ettridge over the "dud" remark.
Mr Doak said he never received the e-mail directly from Mr Ettridge, rather only a copy relayed by Mr Balson.
"I don't think its very interesting at all," Mr Doak said.
It just looks like another day in the life of One Nation. Not the One Nation I joined - the One Nation I left."
Hi Alan,
There's nothing very startling in Scotts 'grabs' of his book. If they represent the controversy then it is as big a dud as Pauline is. Today the Nat Exec meet to decide whether Oldfield goes. David is claiming the constitution provides for the State Division executive to also decide who goes on the nat Exec. He has been lobbying the NSW exec for their votes. It will be an interesting day which could lead to Pauline being embarrassed by the outcome. She may of course simply reject the constitutional provisions which determine this matter and make a regal declaration.
Either way, her interference in NSW is already dividing the fan clubs members from the party members and is creating the division she has so effectively created in every other state. It may not be too long before NSW has only 100 members under her leadership. regards David. Thanks for the Balson info. At this stage dont worry about the video tape. I doubt it will matter much.