One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is "angry" at her fellow senators, particularly party colleague Rod Culleton, after the Senate finally passed the backpacker tax on Thursday.
Appearing on Sky News on Thursday night, shortly after the bill was voted through 43 to 19, Senator Hanson sighed when asked about the tax. She said it was "absolutely fantastic" that the Senate had agreed on a tax rate of 15 per cent, but was "annoyed" at Senator Culleton, with whom she has had strained relations.
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Pauline Hanson slaps down own senator
The One Nation leader tells Sky News she's angry at party colleague Rod Culleton for crossing the floor over the backpacker tax.
"I was so annoyed that Rod Culleton crossed the floor and wouldn't come to 13 per cent," Senator Hanson said, appearing to mistaken 15 per cent with 13 per cent.
"I tried to compromise, I tried to get Derryn Hinch and Rod Culleton yesterday to agree to 13 per cent, they were not going to move on it.
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"Rod said he's a farmer. No. He is a farmer of a different sector, he does not have backpackers. Derryn Hinch, what's his connection with it? Have they ever really gone out to speak to the farmers?
"I was so angry they would not agree with the government."
A farcical final week of Parliament saw Treasurer Scott Morrison initially announce a deal with One Nation on Monday for a 15 per cent tax on backpackers' incomes. But that broke down in the Senate on Wednesday when Senator Hinch and Senator Culleton ended up supporting Labor's preferred 10.5 cent rate.
In the standoff that followed, Senator Hinch and eventually Labor pitched for a 13 per cent tax and goaded the government to compromise. The arrangement with the Greens' nine senators meant the government had enough votes to secure the higher rate.
Senator Hanson was asked about an interview Senator Culleton had with Fairfax Media, where he said it was time to "annul the marriage" between the government and One Nation. She responded that she looked at legislation based on merit, and criticised the "bloody-mindedness" of senators Hinch, Culleton and Lambie.
"Guess who they voted with today? With the government on 15 per cent," Senator Hanson said.
"This could've been sorted out yesterday, without an added cost to the taxpayer. I'm angry about it."
Working holidaymakers would have automatically been taxed for 32 cents in the dollar from January 1 if no compromise was reached.
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