Bernardi vows to pay for flights taken with Hanson on Rinehart’s plane amid confusion about SA’s donations ban

Ahead of the South Australian state election, Cory Bernardi has stated he will pay for flights he and Pauline Hanson took on a plane registered to Gina Rinehart's company. This action comes amid uncertainty about whether the flights constitute a prohibited political donation under South Australia's new, strict donation laws. The election on Saturday marks the first test of these "world-leading" laws, which include various exemptions. However, it remains unclear if any of these exemptions apply to One Nation, as parties and the electoral commission navigate the new regulations. The situation highlights the complexities of interpreting and applying the new donation ban in practice.