The Australian reported on Wednesday<\/a> that the Australian Electoral Commissioner has been formally asked to examine whether a $175,000 donation from made to Mr Xenophon by a businessman breached the electoral act.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m very cautious to comment on this kind of story because Nick always accuses everybody then of picking on him and scrutinising him,\u201d Christopher Pyne told David and Will on FIVEAA Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut let\u2019s just recap the facts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first fact is that Nick\u2019s criticised people who\u2019ve taken large donations in the past exactly like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s said if you give someone $1,000 you support them, if you give them $100,000 you own them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Pyne said Mr Xenophon\u2019s story about the $175,000 had changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he was first questioned about this he said that they were a loan and he was going to pay it back.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s been further questioned on it and today he says it\u2019s not a loan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this was a major party nick would be calling for a judicial enquiry he\u2019d be calling for a royal commission he\u2019d be saying it was the greatest scandal since the Fine Cotton affair.\u201d<\/p>\n
LISTEN TO CHRISTOPHER PYNE AND ANTHONY ALBANESE HERE:<\/h3>\n