Senator Rod Culleton has announced his resignation from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
In a Twitter post tonight, Culleton criticised Hanson and One Nation. In a characteristically rambling and incoherent media release, he said: “Policy decisions have been run in morning media, with no consultation, discussion or agreement from the party room and personal attacks and undermining, un-Australian behaviour towards myself and my team, has been ongoing and terms dictated to the team.”
Culleton accused Hanson of “diluting her pre-election promises” in relation to a banking inquiry. He said: “The PHON leader’s public rants against me have also been accompanied by demands for my resignation and control over diaries, office management and staffing by Senator Hanson and her Chief of Staff, James Ashby.”
Culleton said he intended to continue “independently of PHON” in the 45th Parliament.
The Western Australian senator is awaiting a High Court ruling on his eligibility for election to Parliament. If he is expelled from the Senate, a recount will most likely result in Culleton’s brother-in-law replacing him.
Regardless of the High Court decision, One Nation’s Senate numbers have now dropped from four to three, further complicating the delicate balance of power in the upper house.
Media release from Senator Rodney Culleton.
