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Outgoing senator Brian Burston is pursuing an apprehended violence order against One Nation chief of staff James Ashby, claiming he fears Pauline Hanson's right-hand man. Senator Burston's application for an AVO was briefly mentioned in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday where Mr Ashby's lawyer said he wanted to put on record that the Australian Federal Police had investigated an altercation between the two men at Parliament House in February and found there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Ashby. Lawyer Danny Eid handed up a letter to magistrate Andrew Eckhold which he said raised an issue in the case from "an ethical point of view". He did not elaborate. Mr Ashby is opposing Senator Burston's application for an AVO and will defend the matter. Mr Eid said there was a jurisdictional issue in the case which needed to be addressed but could be heard when the matter went to a full hearing. Lawyer Stephen Churches, representing Senator Burston who was not in court on Tuesday, confirmed an attempt at mediation between the parties had failed. Mr Eckhold adjourned the case to June 24 so it could be listed before magistrate Alan Railton who was presiding when the matter first came to court in April. He made no interim orders preferring Mr Railton handle the case. Senator Burston - who resigned from One Nation in 2018 after a falling out with Senator Hanson before joining Clive Palmer's United Australia Party - filed the AVO application against Mr Ashby after the pair clashed in Canberra on February 13 after a Minerals Council of Australia dinner. The 71-year-old claims Mr Ashby approached him near parliament's Great Hall as he and his wife, Ros, were leaving the function. Senator Burston alleges he was injured when he tried to grab a mobile phone Mr Ashby was waving in his face. He appeared with a bandaged hand in the Senate the next day. Mr Ashby was banned from Parliament House on February 14 after the scuffle. Mr Churches told the court last month both the senator and his wife were living in fear and wanted protection from Mr Ashby. Mr Ashby declined to comment outside court on Tuesday. Australian Associated Press

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