Federal Politics

Politics live: One Nation divisions, senate eligibility woes and same-sex marriage debate

Hanson throws colleague under the bus

One Nation senator Rod Culleton delivers a defiant speech to the Senate, as leader Pauline Hanson supports scrutiny into his eligibility to serve.

That is Senator Culleton's second straight-to-the-pool-room performance.

He tables the advice from outgoing Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson.

Senator Wong says Labor supports the motion against Senator Culleton but acknowledges that the matter is "distressing" for him.

He then mentions male suicide, Queen Elizabeth and the Anzacs.

"The people are with you," one person wrote to him.

"I have nothing further to say."

Senator Rod Culleton on Monday.
Senator Rod Culleton on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares

"I do not claim ever to be a perfect man," Senator Culleton says.

He thinks the matter would be better dealt with by the privileges committee. He would also like a trial by jury.

"This action could run out of sight on a dark night."

Senator Rod Culleton speaks in the Senate on Monday.
Senator Rod Culleton speaks in the Senate on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares

I'm paraphrasing here - Senator Culleton thinks the major parties are stifling the voices of ordinary people in politics.

He is one of those stifled voices.

He is against the "skulduggery" that takes place in the Senate.

He is not happy with the media for supporting the government's case to the High Court.

Senator Culleton rises to speak.

"I intend to dutifully and responsibly" act as a senator, he says, which makes it sound like he will keep voting.

Which is not what he said this morning.

One Nation senator Rod Culleton speaks in the Senate on Monday.
One Nation senator Rod Culleton speaks in the Senate on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
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The motion relating to Mr Day is passed.

The Senate turns its attention to the case against Senator Culleton.

 

Senator Culleton has arrived in the Senate.

He has asked for a lectern.

David Leyonhjelm is defending Mr Day saying whatever he did "it is definitely not corruption".

The Senate is going through the motions of passing the motion in relation to Mr Day.

Labor spies an opportunity in the House of Representatives.

It is trying to suspend standing orders because "the Senate has been sitting under a cloud" and wants Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to come in and explain what the government knew and when about the affairs of Mr Day and Senator Culleton.

Senator Wong says the government "turned a blind eye" to the questions about the electorate office because it needed Mr Day's vote.

But that is a "matter for another day".

Labor believes the matter should be considered by the High Court in order to protect the integrity of Parliament.

Labor agrees with the government's decision to refer the matter to the High Court.

But it wants to make a point.

"There are serious questions to be answered about the conduct of ministers of this government," Senator Wong says.

"Who knew what and when?"

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Senator Ryan outlines the case against Mr Day which is that the now former senator had an "indirect pecuniary interest" in the office.

"The government has taken every step to explore this matter and seek further facts," he says.

"The only body that is competent to determine this matter is the court."

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann listens to the Senator Scott Ryan in the Senate on Monday.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann listens to the Senator Scott Ryan in the Senate on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares

Senator Ryan was dealing with all of this at the time of the birth of his second baby and then the hospitalisation of his baby.

He mentions this because he had to take leave while he was trying to get to the bottom of what was going on with Mr Day's office.

Special Minister of State Scott Ryan moves to the eligibility of Bob Day and Senator Culleton.

He says it is not an issue he ever expected to have to deal with.

Senator Ryan goes through the timeline of events relating to Mr Day's electorate office in Adelaide.

Debate on the same-sex marriage plebiscite legislation has been adjourned.

It gets a bit murky after this because I've read the letter and I do not understand what it is about.

It is something to do with "an unelected aristocracy" which has the power to decide who or what comes before the High Court.

This stems from something that happened in Perth in October in which a "senior member" of Senator Culleton's staff went to "attend and observe this blatant contempt of the power and authority of Parliament".

I am baffled.

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Sometimes, one is lost for words.

But not Senator Culleton. Oh no. He has written to the Senate President, Stephen Parry, about the "unelected class of people [who] could sabotage the very purpose of an elected Federal Parliament".

[Those are his caps, not mine.]

He speaks of "a Set of High Court Rules".

Greens MP Adam Bandt is having none of Senator Robert's climate change conspiracy theories.

"If we're going to waste public money challenging accepted scientific truths, surely the One Nation senator could show a little more ambition," Mr Bandt suggests.

"Instead of asking only whether climate science is real, the One Nation senator should have the courage of his convictions and expand the inquiry to examine whether the laws of gravity are still in force and if the Earth still revolves around the sun," Mr Bandt said.

 

Meanwhile, over in the House of Representatives, the government is demonstrating how hard this politics schtick is.

Labor MP Emma Husar moved a motion a short time ago criticising the government for its treatment of pensioners or, to use her actual words, that "the government is short changing Australian pensioners".

Not something one would expect the government to support.

But Queensland MP Scott Buchholz did.

The motion was not voted on. Who knows what might have happened if it was? 

 

And many people on twitter tell me it is the same Peter King.

Man, karma.

Senator Culleton's statement says he is seeking legal advice from a barrister called Peter King.

That's a pretty common name but there is a barrister called Peter King who used to be a minister in the Howard government and represented the Sydney seat of Wentworth. Until Malcolm Bligh Turnbull knocked him off.

 

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