Cracks show in One Nation as Culleton and Hanson meet

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has insisted her party remains united after a public spat between her and one of her senators.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. Source: AAP

After several no shows at planned meetings, Senator Hanson was finally given an explanation about allegations Senator Rod Culleton tried to pervert the course of justice.

The One Nation leader told media last night she had summoned Mr Culleton to her office to discuss a letter he wrote to a Queensland magistrate. 

"I sent a message to his office that I wanted to actually have a meeting with him, and he didn't turn up to the meeting," Ms Hanson said.

When Mr Culleton insisted Ms Hanson was supposed to come to him, the One Nation leader was quick to put the senator in his place.

"Rod, excuse me, I'm party leader. I expect you to come to my office, right, and it's about being a team player, and that's all I expect," she said.
Queensland's Police Commissioner was yesterday asked to investigate a letter Senator Culleton sent to a magistrate asking for a bankruptcy case to be adjourned.

In it, he said he was watching the conduct of all judicial officers.

State Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath referred Mr Culleton to police after the magistrate expressed concern the correspondence could amount to an attempt to pervert the course of justice, as well as threatening a judicial officer.

Mr Culleton said he believed the investigation was payback for some questions he asked as a One Nation senator.

"I've come to Parliament and I've put in some, I've asked some pretty good questions and, you know, I'd be a fool if I ever thought there wouldn't be some sort of reaction. And there's clearly a reaction," Mr Culleton said.

Senator Hanson told media the affair had taken her completely by surprise.

"I was unaware of the letter that he actually sent to the court," she said.

"I had no indication this was going to happen, so, I've been taken completely unawares."

Earlier this month, Ms Hanson backed a parliamentary referral to the High Court over Senator Culleton's election eligibility because he had a larceny conviction at the time of the July poll.
When asked if he was happy to remain in the party, Mr Culleton said it wasn't a question of whether he was happy or not.

"When I chose, or when Pauline chose me as a candidate, and I was committed to running as a Senator, I did it under the One Nation Banner. And I have principles."

"Whether the going gets tough, or whether I, you know, get very happy, I have to serve my term for my constituents because that's how they voted me to Parliament, under a One Nation banner."

This afternoon, the two senators did finally meet for over an hour in Ms Hanson's office.

The party leader emerged from the meeting assured she had the senator's full support.

"He says he's got everything under control and that's what I needed and wanted to know."

Senator Culleton labelled some of Ms Hanson's comments over the past 24 hours as patronising, but said they still make a good team.

"She's a mother and she's very caring and she cares about her team and that's very comforting," he said.

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3 min read
Published 23 November 2016 7:19pm
Updated 23 November 2016 7:55pm
By SBS News
Source: SBS


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