South Australian One Nation lead candidate Cory Bernardi says he will pay for flights provided by a company owned by billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart that were used to transport him and federal party leader Pauline Hanson on the hustings.

This weekend’s state election is the first since laws banning private donations to political parties were introduced. 

The Labor Party has told the ABC it has written to the state’s electoral commissioner to “have a look at One Nation’s use of a private plane” and whether it was allowable under the Electoral Act.

Both Mr Bernardi and Senator Hanson travelled on the plane, operated by S. Kidman & Co, a company majority owned by Ms Rinehart. 

On her Senate register of interests, Senator Hanson said she was “very thankful” to the agricultural company’s chief executive, Adam Giles, for the flights on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, including between Adelaide and Mount Gambier and Maitland, on the Yorke Peninsula.

A flight map showing a flight from Adelaide to Mount Gambier Adelaide to Mount Gambier on March 15.(Flightradar24)

Adelaide to Mount Gambier on March 15. (Flightradar24)

A flight map showing a flight from Mount Gambier to Maitland Mount Gambier to Maitland on March 15.(Flightradar24)

Mount Gambier to Maitland on March 15. (Flightradar24)

A flight map showing a flight from Maitland to Port Lincoln Maitland to Port Lincoln on March 15.(Flightradar24)

Maitland to Port Lincoln on March 15. (Flightradar24)

A flight map showing a flight from Port Lincoln to Whyalla Port Lincoln to Whyalla on March 16.

Port Lincoln to Whyalla on March 16.

A flight map showing a flight from Whyalla to Adelaide Whyalla to Adelaide on March 16.(Flightradar24)

Whyalla to Adelaide on March 16. (Flightradar24)

A flight map showing Adelaide to Coober Pedy Adelaide to Coober Pedy on March 17.(Flightradar24)

Adelaide to Coober Pedy on March 17.

A flight map showing Coober Pedy to Adelaide Coober Pedy to Adelaide on March 17.(Flightradar24)

Coober Pedy to Adelaide on March 17. (Flightradar24)

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the use of the plane was a “pretty extraordinary” set of circumstances and something that needed to be explained by One Nation.

“The only thing more inexplicable to me than One Nation and Pauline Hanson flying around on one of the richest persons in Australia’s private planes is the fact that they don’t have a plan for Australia,” he said.

“Maybe when they’re on a private plane, they could cook up a plan for the state.”

Single engined propeller plane on an air tarmac. A Pilatus PC-12 similar to the one used by Pauline Hanson and Cory Bernardi.(Supplied)Donation denied

Mr Bernardi said the flights were not an in-kind political donation.

“I will pay for my seat on a plane, just like I paid my own way everywhere,” he said.

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He said he was unsure why the premier was being so critical.

“He wants to carry on about the peripheral stuff,” Mr Bernardi said.

“He was critical of Pauline being here but, you know, I’m actually proud of my federal leader. 

“Anthony Albanese is obviously in hiding.”

Mr Albanese last visited South Australia on February 15 for an AUKUS announcement, but is expected in Adelaide today.

A man and a woman speak to people while media is around Cory Bernardi and Pauline Hanson speaking to voters in McLaren Vale on Thursday.(ABC News)

Mr Bernardi and Senator Hanson campaigned on Thursday in the seat of Mawson, which extends south of Adelaide to include Kangaroo Island. 

One Nation is tipped to be a major player in the SA election

One Nation has been gaining traction ahead of the South Australian election with policy promises on health, gun laws and coal and nuclear power. 

The party has been buoyed by an upswing in support, with a recent YouGov poll of 1,265 voters showing the party’s primary vote at 22 per cent, compared to the Liberals at 19 per cent.

When asked about the flights on the S. Kidman & Co plane, Senator Hanson said she had “nothing to do with them” and her understanding was that Mr Bernardi would pay the bill.

Mr Bernardi said Ms Rinehart was a “friend” and a “wonderful Australian” and that he did not yet know what the bill would be for the flights.

The ABC asked S. Kidman & Co how much it would be charging for the flights, but was referred to the comments made by Mr Bernardi and Senator Hanson.

Important visits to regions

Mr Bernardi said campaigning right across the state had been important.

“We’re getting out there around South Australia, talking to the people that the others ignore,” he said.

“When we go to Coober Pedy and we talk to the people there, they’re glad that we’re there to talk about their power issues and their water issues and the lack of provision, the racial division that’s happening up there.”

A woman with orange hair speaks to a man wearing a black shirt One Nation leader Pauline Hanson speaks to Mawson candidate Tyler Green in McLaren Vale.(ABC News)

Laws to ban political donations came into effect in July last year, making it unlawful to accept an electoral donation to a registered political party, member of parliament, candidate or group of candidates.

Certain new entrants and non-incumbents are allowed to accept donations, subject to caps, including an individual donation limit of $5,000.

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