Western Australian Senator Rod Culleton resigns from One Nation
Australian Financial Review Dec 19 2016 12:40 AM
Primrose Riordan
Embattled Western Australian Senator Rod Culleton has resigned from the One Nation party, leaving Pauline Hanson with just three Senators.
The Senator is currently facing two legal cases which could render him ineligible as a parliamentarian - including one in the High Court which is awaiting judgement.
Senator Culleton accused Senator Hanson and her chief of staff James Ashby of attempting to force him to resign and of trying to wrestle control of his office.
"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. The irrational dictates have caused only disunity and distrust," Senator Culleton said in a statement.
The move is not unexpected as he has publicly fallen out with Senator Hanson, after first splitting with her over foreign investment back in October.
"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," he said.
Senator Culleton also suggested Senator Hanson has pulled support for his proposed banking royal commission.
"I can no longer tolerate the lack of party support for my positive initiatives, including the recent abandonment of PHON's pre-election commitment to a Banking Royal Commission," Senator Culleton said.
The Senate voted to refer Senator Culleton's eligibility for parliament to the High Court after it came to the government's attention that he was convicted of larceny when he was elected. Lawyers for the Senator argue that as the sentence was then annulled after the election it effectively did not exist.
The full bench of the High Court reserved their judgement and it is likely they will rule on the matter early next year.
Former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester has also taken Senator Culleton to court over a number of debts, which could result in sequestration orders. Senators and MPs become ineligible for parliament if they become bankrupt.
This case continues in the Federal Court in Perth on Monday.