Pauline Hanson says Rod Culleton 'not a team player' for voting against party on backpacker tax
Updated
West Australian Senator Rod Culleton has dismissed an extraordinary spray from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who claims she can no longer work with the colourful senator.
Key Points
- Rod Culleton proposed own amendments to the backpacker tax
- Senator Culleton to consider position in One Nation over Christmas
- The High Court will hear a challenge to his election tomorrow
Senator Hanson told Sydney's 2GB Radio she was furious when Senator Culleton crossed the floor to vote against her party on the backpacker tax last week.
"He is not a team player at all," she said.
"We can't work with him; you can't reason with him and honestly I think the whole lot has gone to his head.
"He loves the limelight; he loves the publicity. He's not really listening to the advice."
Senator Culleton insisted he was a team player, but said he would consider his position in the party over the Christmas period.
"Can I honestly say this, I have played a lot of football in my life and I have never, ever seen Pauline Hanson at one of my football matches," he said.
"So she can't ever say I am not a team player."
Senator Hanson said Senator Culleton was intent on "running his own race" and his behaviour was "all over the bloody place".
"I've been in this for 20 years and to have a new kid on the block telling me what to do is absolutely ridiculous," she said.
Tensions within the party have been simmering since Senator Hanson publicly demanded an explanation from Senator Culleton last month, after he failed to attend a meeting in her office.
Senator Culleton said he respected Senator Hanson but did not believe she was his boss.
He dismissed claims Senator Hanson had tried to "throw him under a bus" with her comments.
"I'd find it very hard for Pauline Hanson to throw me under a bus or a truck considering I could grab the key so unless she was prepared to push it and roll it I don't think that will happen," he said.
Recount if election deemed invalid
The full bench of the High Court will hear a challenge to the election of Senator Culleton on Wednesday.
The court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, has been tasked with determining whether the senator breached section 44(ii) of the constitution.
If his election proves invalid, a recount of the vote will take place to choose his replacement.
Senator Hanson said a High Court ruling against Senator Culleton may not improve relationships within the party.
"If the High Court comes to the decision that he is not entitled to stand in that seat it will go back to a recount," she said.
"In the recount, we will win the seat and I could end up with his brother-in-law. We are on the same merry-go-round."
Senator Hanson insisted she would prevail through the tensions.
"There are tougher things than Rod Culleton in this world," she said.
Senator Culleton said the High Court case was a waste of taxpayer dollars.
"It is easy for the Attorney-General [George Brandis] and everyone to whistle me off to the High Court because they are not paying, the Australian people are," he said.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-parliament, minor-parties, political-parties, australia
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