Rod Culleton's High Court battle full of theatrics and cries of 'kangaroo court'
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The legal argument in today's High Court case may have been dry, but there were plenty of lively theatrics in and around the court, beginning with Senator Rod Culleton's early arrival and mobbing by the TV cameras.
There was more inside when a man in the public gallery interrupted proceedings calling out "this is a Star Chamber, it's a Kangaroo Court".
Incoming Chief Justice Susan Kiefel adjourned the court after failing to dissuade the man who had to be removed by court officers.
Outside he told the media he was John Wilson, a dentist and friend of Senator Culleton.
Curiously, the One Nation politician did not acknowledge the man in the nearby Portrait Gallery cafe where both were lunching a table apart.
Then there was Bob Katter, hat in hand, close in with the Culleton supporters in the court, leaning forward to offer his advice from time to time — raising the question, is he looking for a new recruit?
The outspoken MP later penned a letter to Senator Culleton's wife, comparing the beleaguered politician to Jesus.
And, of course, there was the absence of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson whose public battle with Rod Culleton has been impossible to miss.
Whether he's planning to leave One Nation if he keeps his Senate seat remains unclear after today's media engagements.
It's all been a bit confusing.
Senator Culleton himself mused outside the court that "I think it's been over the judges' heads a bit".
And then the said he might have to seek a bit of ATM.
That's Culleton for 'Avoid the Media'.
Topics: federal-government, government-and-politics, courts-and-trials, australia
