Hanson backs High Court referral but Culleton keeps voting

Pauline Hanson has backed the referral of one of her own party's senators to the High Court over his eligibility to run for parliament.

One Nation Senator Rod Culleton

One Nation Senator Rod Culleton speaks during a motion in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Source: AAP

The One Nation leader announced her surprising decision on Monday after the government took unprecedented legal action against her West Australian colleague Rod Culleton and Family First's Bob Day.

The High Court sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns will determine whether Senator Culleton had been ineligible to run for parliament because of an existing larceny conviction.

Senator Culleton had been convicted in March of stealing a tow truck key - a larceny charge which carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Under the constitution, anyone convicted of a charge carrying a jail sentence of a year or more is not eligible to run for parliament.

He won a WA Senate seat for One Nation at the July 2 election.

On August 8, Senator Culleton's conviction was annulled, and on October 25 he pleaded guilty to the charge with the magistrate finding the charge proven, but dismissing it.

Embattled One Nation senator Rod Culleton earlier said he will continue to vote on legislation, despite previously saying he would abstain.

He told parliament on Monday he had accepted advice from the Senate Clerk that he had the right to continue to exercise his vote while the court considered the matter.
In a speech attempting to defend himself from the High Court action, Senator Culleton compared himself to Jesus Christ, after earlier in the day likening himself to Muhammad Ali.

"I do not claim ever to be a perfect man," he said.

"Amongst imperfection, there was only one perfect man who walked this earth and we remember that they lauded him one week and then brutally crucified him the next."

The senator called the High Court a 'virtual cancer on society' in a letter this morning to Senate president Stephen Parry he also asked the upper house to consider removing offending judges from the court. 

"An unelected aristocracy decided they and only they would decide what came to the High Court," he wrote.

"Because they have been allowed to get away with this sabotage of the constitution, every branch of the judiciary has felt unrestrained to disregard that hallowed legislation, and the two acts that complement it made here in this Parliament."
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson speaks during a motion in the Senate chamber
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson speaks during a motion in the senate chamber. (AAP) Source: AAP
Senator Hanson said her party would support the referral to the High Court, having accepted Senator Culleton's word he had been eligible to run.

"My fellow colleagues and I support Senator Culleton but we have seen on too many occasions politicians in this place and the other place who have not been accountable to the Australian people and I will not stand here and be of the same ilk," she said.
"I believe it should go to the High Court to make a ruling on this matter and ... I would dearly love to see Senator Culleton take his place here as a One Nation senator."

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3 min read
Published 7 November 2016 2:06pm
Updated 7 November 2016 6:01pm
Source: AAP


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