Queensland police have arrested a senior One Nation adviser.
Sean Black, a media and policy adviser to outspoken senator Malcolm Roberts, was taken into custody in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Mr Black has been under investigation since a complaint was lodged last August, as revealed by Fairfax Media. It is understood police took him into custody after he failed to appear for a scheduled interview on Wednesday morning.
Details of the allegations cannot be reported for legal reasons. Charges have not yet been laid.
A police media spokeswoman told Fairfax Media: "A 39-year-old was in police custody as part of an ongoing investigation"
In February, Senator Roberts defended Mr Black over media reports about him, branding them "fake news".
"While it's terrible that Pauline and I are subjected to lies and smears to try and discredit us politically it's totally unacceptable that when they can't find dirt on us the media go after our staff," Senator Roberts said in a Facebook post.
"I have been working closely with Sean for the past five months and he is a great asset to our team and to Pauline's team, both as a hard working aide and as a personal friend. I have seen no evidence of the caricature he is painted to be, he loves his family, has a great sense of humour and is extremely well liked by all those who associate with him.
"Sean has my full support and will continue to have my full support in this office for as long as I am an elected official."
Mr Black declined to comment on the allegations at the time.
The adviser has been a controversial figure in Queensland politics, starting out in the 1990s as a Labor operative tasked with destroying Pauline Hanson's party when she first burst onto the scene.
He left the ALP after being caught up in a vote-rigging scandal detailed in the Shepherdson corruption inquiry. He was never charged with any crimes but subsequently gravitated towards conservative politics.
In 2008, he was elected to the Logan City Council, where he was accused of bullying and flying into fits of uncontrollable rage.
At one stage, he was banned from entering council chambers or dealing with staff after a string of complaints of intimidation.
The mayor at the time said he had a "sad history of unacceptable behaviour" and ordered special security arrangements for any meetings he attended. Colleagues said he was disruptive and chaotic.
At the time Mr Black admitted to raising his voice and swearing but said the ban was a result of his political enemies trying to silence him.
With One Nation on track to make big gains at the next Queensland election, sources have named Mr Black as a potential future state leader.
One Nation has been contacted for comment.
This story first appeared on Brisbane Times.
