High Court begins Rod Culleton, Bob Day hearings

ONE Nation senator Rod Culleton declared he won’t be “sleeping with the enemy” as the High Court examines his eligibility to be elected.

One Nation Senator Rodney Culleton at federal Parliament ahead of a High Court case against him on Monday. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

ONE Nation senator Rod Culleton won’t be “sleeping with the enemy” as the High Court examines his eligibility to be elected.

Senator Culleton faced the Court of Disputed Returns on Monday in the first hearing of a case lodged against him by the Federal Government over his alleged ineligibility to run for parliament in the July election because of a larceny conviction at the time.

The senator, who will be representing himself, told media outside the High Court he would not be accepting any help from Government lawyers to construct his case.

“It’s up to Brandis’ lawyers now to come forward and prove their case,” Senator Culleton said.

“The court ordered that Brandis’ lawyers help construct my case as I’m a self litigant but I expressed to the court that would be like sleeping with the enemy,” he said.

“We’ll run our case the best we feel it can be run and that we’ll be waiting for their further submissions on how they’re going to argue a case for annulment because I think that’s a bit long-bowed.

“I don’t think it will go anywhere.”

But the senator said he thought the first hearing went well.

Before entering the directions hearing, the Senator told reporters he would give the case his best shot.

“If I’m swatted today like a mozzie, well then I have done my bit in Australian history and no one can say I haven’t given it my best shot,” he said.

The Senator had initially called for a postponement of the case against him on Monday, arguing it would be in breach of the Parliamentary Privileges Act for him to appear on a sitting day, but later decided to attend the hearing.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told the Seven Network on Monday morning she would welcome Mr Culleton back to the floor of the Senate if his eligibility was confirmed by the High Court.

“Of course, I am very happy to have four senators,” Senator Hanson said.

She expected the case to wrap up within two days.

Family First senator Bob Day is also due to face a directions hearing in the High Court over his eligibility to be elected on Monday.

Mr Day’s eligibility is being challenged on the grounds he received an indirect benefit from the government in relation to his Adelaide electorate office.