QUEENSLAND Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls says a staff member who reportedly struck a deal to lay off attacks on One Nation has been “strongly counselled”.

The ABC’s Four Corners program on Monday aired a secret recording of a telephone hook-up in which Pauline Hanson’s chief-of-staff James Ashby claimed he had an agreement with Mr Nicholls for the two parties to avoid “slagging off” each other.

Four Corners presents 'Please Explain' Four Corners presents 'Please Explain'

Mr Nicholls initially took to Twitter to label the claim “absolute crap” and later said his own chief-of-staff had never had anything to do with Mr Ashby.

But the ABC has since aired an extended version of the recording, in which Mr Ashby makes it clear he is talking about Mr Nicholls’ senior policy advisor Peter Coulson, rather than his chief-of-staff.

In a statement today, Mr Nicholls said the media report was the first he’d heard of the contact between the two men.

“This staff member was acting without authority and has been strongly counselled,” he said.

“I have publicly ruled out any deals with One Nation and I restate it again today.”