Senator Mark Latham forced out as leader of NSW division of One Nation

Mark Latham has been sensationally dumped as leader of the NSW division of One Nation.

Mark Latham is no longer the leader of the NSW division of One Nation, after the party made the sensational decision to ditch the controversial politician.

The NSW senator confirmed on social media on Monday he was no longer the leader of the NSW branch of the party founded by Pauline Hanson.

Mark Latham is no longer leader of the NSW division of One Nation. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

The position now remains vacant, according to a party spokesman.

“One Nation has replaced its New South Wales state executive and declared open the position of NSW parliamentary leader,” the spokesman said.

The August 9 decision was made as a direct result of the recent NSW state election, according to the spokesman.

He explained the 14 per cent drop in support for One Nation was the key reason for the drastic change in leadership.

Senator Hanson will now join the the NSW state executive team.

“The new executive’s priority is a comprehensive review of the party’s organisation ahead of future election campaigns, with a focus on the relationship between the organisation and parliamentary wings of the party, and the performance of the parliamentary wing,” the party spokesman said.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Mark Latham during better days before the NSW senator lost his role as state leader. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

“When Senator Hanson is confident the organisation and parliamentary wings of the party have established an effective, strong and collaborative working relationship under her leadership, she will consider opening the position of NSW parliamentary leader for nominations.

“The national executive of the party has also declared vacant the position of NSW parliamentary leader while the review takes place.”

The spokeswoman confirmed “no-one has been sacked as a member of One Nation”.

Calling it the “Queensland Control of NSW One Nation”, Mr Latham has hit back at the sudden change in leadership, stating the August 9 decision was made without “consultation or due process”.

“Senator Pauline Hanson used the National Executive powers of One Nation to take over our NSW branch,” Mr Latham stated Monday.

Senator Pauline Hanson and her executive branch have decided to go in a new direction of leadership for the NSW branch of the party.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“She has installed her own new State Executive with people from Queensland and Tasmania who did not lift a finger to help us during the March election campaign.

“Good party members who worked exceptionally hard for One Nation have been kicked off the Executive.”

Mr Latham disputed the the state election result was justification for overthrowing the NSW executive team, including his own role as state party leader.

“Hanson’s sole justification for this takeover is our upper house vote, which fell by 1 per cent in March,” he said.

“Yet our 6 per cent result was still 2 per cent ahead of the NSW Senate result last year in a campaign Hanson herself headed.

“In Queensland, Hanson’s Senate vote fell by 3 per cent and she only just scrapped in for re-election.

“If she is worried about under-performance, her best solution is to buy a mirror.

“In June, NSW One Nation conducted a thorough post-election review involving all our state candidates.

“Last month Senator Hanson was briefed on the review’s findings.

“Our NSW party was moving forward in a sensible, cooperative way but has now been turned upside down by the Queensland intervention.”

One Nation's Mark Latham says he rejects the decision to remove him as state leader. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

Mr Latham said he believes he will “remain as the leader of our parliamentary team” despite the decision at a national branch level.

“Equally, the decision to try to abolish the position of NSW One Nation Parliamentary Leader is bizarre, mirroring something the Greens do in the NSW Parliament,” he said.

“This is a matter, quite rightly, for me, Rod Roberts and Tania Mihailuk (and) I.

“Over the past five years we have built up into the largest One Nation parliamentary party in the country – so where’s the problem?”

Mr Latham said the “Queensland takeover is not about performance” but instead “about money”.

“As NSW One Nation Leader I have stood in the way of attempts to misuse our funds, especially the administration money contributed by NSW taxpayers through the Electoral Commission,” he said.

“I will continue to fight for the proper, ethical use of this money.”