Allegations of rape have been laid against a senior member of the One Nation party - the latest embarrassment in a series of public relations disasters for the right-wing group led by former fish-and-chip shop owner Pauline Hanson. Neville Raymond Smith, 44, a taxi driver who stood for One Nation in Australia's last federal election in 1998, has been charged with rape and will appear in court next week. The alleged assault occurred at Smith's home in the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, last week. Smith, who declined to enter a plea when he appeared before a Kalgoorlie magistrate, was released on bail. While One Nation has attracted vocal support for its harsh policies towards Aborigines and Asian immigrants, it has also suffered a string of humiliating setbacks. Last weekend, Ms Hanson was deeply embarrassed in front of journalists when, with great fanfare, she turned up at her party's new campaign offices, only to find the door padlocked. She accused the Japanese firm that owns the building, in Surfers Paradise on Queensland's coast, of reneging on a deal to lease the building, saying it had acted in an 'un-Australian' way. It is comments like that which have endeared her to some Australians who fear the effects of globalisation on their jobs, while prompting accusations from others that she is a racist bigot. One Nation supporters are also worried about the economic decline of rural areas and the creeping influence of large, foreign-owned companies. The party has played to those fears and Ms Hanson, who lost her federal seat in the 1998 election, hopes to secure a Senate seat at the next federal poll, which is likely to be held in November or December. However, she is also facing fraud charges over the registration of One Nation and the alleged acceptance of A$500,000 (HK$2,063,000) in electoral funds. The matter is to go before a Brisbane court in October and if convicted, Ms Hanson will have to relinquish her seat should she be successful at the polls.
