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| 'We can't work with him': Hanson attacks Rod Culleton for lack of teamwork 'We can't work with him': Hanson attacks Rod Culleton for lack of teamwork | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has launched an extraordinary attack on her Western Australian colleague, Rod Culleton, saying the party can’t work with him because he won’t listen to reason. | One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has launched an extraordinary attack on her Western Australian colleague, Rod Culleton, saying the party can’t work with him because he won’t listen to reason. |
| In comments to 2GB Radio on Tuesday, Hanson also lamented that even if the high court ruled Culleton was not eligible to sit in the Senate, his brother-in-law may take his seat and the party would be on “the same merry-go-round”. | In comments to 2GB Radio on Tuesday, Hanson also lamented that even if the high court ruled Culleton was not eligible to sit in the Senate, his brother-in-law may take his seat and the party would be on “the same merry-go-round”. |
| The flare-up comes after Culleton split with his colleagues on the backpacker tax last week and reportedly accused Hanson of backing down on his proposed banking royal commission. | The flare-up comes after Culleton split with his colleagues on the backpacker tax last week and reportedly accused Hanson of backing down on his proposed banking royal commission. |
| Hanson said that Culleton had done “a complete spin turnaround” when she negotiated a 15% backpacker tax rate with the government, and that he and Hinch were “all over the bloody place” on the issue. | Hanson said that Culleton had done “a complete spin turnaround” when she negotiated a 15% backpacker tax rate with the government, and that he and Hinch were “all over the bloody place” on the issue. |
| “I thought: they wouldn’t have a clue what the hell they’re doing. | “I thought: they wouldn’t have a clue what the hell they’re doing. |
| Asked if Culleton had gone rogue, she replied: “He’s not a team player at all – we can’t work with him, you can’t reason with him.” | Asked if Culleton had gone rogue, she replied: “He’s not a team player at all – we can’t work with him, you can’t reason with him.” |
| Hanson suggested that being a senator had “gone to [Culleton’s] head” because he “loved publicity”. “You can’t give him advice, he runs his own race. That’s not teamwork.” | Hanson suggested that being a senator had “gone to [Culleton’s] head” because he “loved publicity”. “You can’t give him advice, he runs his own race. That’s not teamwork.” |
| She rejected Culleton’s claim she didn’t support a bank royal commission, and said the prime minister had agreed to a Senate inquiry into banks with One Nation’s terms of references. | She rejected Culleton’s claim she didn’t support a bank royal commission, and said the prime minister had agreed to a Senate inquiry into banks with One Nation’s terms of references. |
| Asked about the high court case to test Culleton’s eligibility, which will be heard on Wednesday, Hanson said if he were not entitled to his seat, a recount would give it to One Nation. | Asked about the high court case to test Culleton’s eligibility, which will be heard on Wednesday, Hanson said if he were not entitled to his seat, a recount would give it to One Nation. |
| “I could end up with his brother-in-law. I’m yet to meet his brother-in-law but Rod has said he wants to work with [him], so we’re on the same merry-go-round.” | “I could end up with his brother-in-law. I’m yet to meet his brother-in-law but Rod has said he wants to work with [him], so we’re on the same merry-go-round.” |
| Hanson welcomed support from Dick Smith on Tuesday for One Nation, saying he was a well-respected Australian whose support would help people realise she doesn’t have “two heads”. | Hanson welcomed support from Dick Smith on Tuesday for One Nation, saying he was a well-respected Australian whose support would help people realise she doesn’t have “two heads”. |
| Hanson suggested she said things in the open that others were too “gutless” to. “We won’t deal with the problems of this country until we say this guy does or doesn’t have clothes on,” she said, referencing the fable of the emperor’s new clothes. | Hanson suggested she said things in the open that others were too “gutless” to. “We won’t deal with the problems of this country until we say this guy does or doesn’t have clothes on,” she said, referencing the fable of the emperor’s new clothes. |
| Asked about Donald Trump’s election in the United States and Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi’s resignation, Hanson said there was “revolution” under way by people “fed up with the major political parties”. | Asked about Donald Trump’s election in the United States and Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi’s resignation, Hanson said there was “revolution” under way by people “fed up with the major political parties”. |
| She said Australians wanted “our sovereignty, our nationalism”. “We don’t want people coming in telling us what to do, how to live our lives, and becoming such a nanny state.” | She said Australians wanted “our sovereignty, our nationalism”. “We don’t want people coming in telling us what to do, how to live our lives, and becoming such a nanny state.” |
| Hanson said people felt they weren’t receiving basic requirements for a good life: owning their homes, being able to feed their families, and living in “peace and harmony”. | Hanson said people felt they weren’t receiving basic requirements for a good life: owning their homes, being able to feed their families, and living in “peace and harmony”. |
| Hanson agreed the party needed to improve candidate selection to compete with the major parties and again reflected on her mistaken belief Culleton was a “good candidate”. | Hanson agreed the party needed to improve candidate selection to compete with the major parties and again reflected on her mistaken belief Culleton was a “good candidate”. |
| “He would make a very good senator if he could only take direction. But he doesn’t like … my authority.” | “He would make a very good senator if he could only take direction. But he doesn’t like … my authority.” |
| Hanson said she couldn’t even talk to Culleton because when she tried he said “stop, stop, don’t go any further otherwise I’m out of here”. | Hanson said she couldn’t even talk to Culleton because when she tried he said “stop, stop, don’t go any further otherwise I’m out of here”. |
| She said she’d deal with the issues in her party, because she had dealt with “tougher things than the Rod Culletons in this world”. | She said she’d deal with the issues in her party, because she had dealt with “tougher things than the Rod Culletons in this world”. |
| A spokeswoman for the prime minister told Guardian Australia the government “closely considers” proposed Senate inquiries but establishing an inquiry was a matter for the Senate once it had been formally proposed. | A spokeswoman for the prime minister told Guardian Australia the government “closely considers” proposed Senate inquiries but establishing an inquiry was a matter for the Senate once it had been formally proposed. |
| Culleton has presented terms of reference for a royal commission to Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, but One Nation has not proposed a Senate inquiry in the Senate yet. | Culleton has presented terms of reference for a royal commission to Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, but One Nation has not proposed a Senate inquiry in the Senate yet. |
| Guardian Australia contacted Culleton for comment. | Guardian Australia contacted Culleton for comment. |