One Nation cannot work with Rod Culleton: Pauline Hanson

ONE Nation senator Rod Culleton has said he expected more from Pauline Hanson, as he remains tight-lipped about his future in the party.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says Rod Culleton has essentially split from the party. Picture: Gary Ramage

EMBATTLED senator Rod Culleton says he is “disappointed” at the lack of support and respect from his One Nation colleagues but has refused to say whether he will quit the party.

It comes after party leader Pauline Hanson gave a scathing radio interview about him this morning, all but confirming the WA senator had split from the party.

After weeks of infighting, Senator Hanson lashed out at her colleague on radio saying: “We can’t work with him.”

“He’s not a team player at all,” Senator Hanson told 2GB radio host Ray Hadley.

“We can’t work with him, you can’t reason with him and honestly I think the whole lot’s gone to his head,” she said.

“He loves the limelight, he loves the publicity and he’s not really listening to the advice.”

Senator Culleton said he expected more support from his party leader and colleagues ahead of his first High Court hearing tomorrow.

RELATED: Tensions erupt between Pauline Hanson and Rod Culleton

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Pauline Hanson says One Nation senator Rod Culleton is not a team player. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

“During the lead up to this hearing, up to the day before tomorrow’s High Court challenge, which the Senate had no evidence to support, I would have thought it reasonable to expect some measure of support or at the very least, some discretion and respect from the party leader and my party colleagues — I’m still waiting for any indication of either,” Senator Culleton said in a statement this afternoon.

Senator Culleton is due to face the High Court over whether he was eligible to be elected on July 2 due to a larceny conviction at the time.

Senator Hanson’s comments come after Culleton voted against his party’s position a handful of times in the final sitting weeks of the year.

The pair were also publicly at odds after Culleton was referred to Queensland police for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Senator Hanson said it was “absolutely ridiculous” for Senator Culleton to be telling his party leader what to do.

Great chat with Ray Hadley on @2GB873. Many ppl love to agree with me behind closed doors but won't speak up because they're gutless #auspol

— Pauline Hanson (@PaulineHansonOz) December 5, 2016

“I’ve been in this for 20 years … For a new kid on the block telling me what to do it’s just absolutely ridiculous … he runs his own race,” she said.

She said that when she started to discuss “ground rules” with him, he would refuse to engage with her in a “decent conversation”.

“I start talking to him and laying down some ground rules and he says ‘stop, don’t go any further, otherwise I’m out of here’. You can’t have a decent conversation with someone telling you ‘stop’ because they don’t want to hear these things,” she said.

Senator Pauline Hanson has attacked Rod Culleton. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I wish he would just rein himself in and actually become a team player as the other two senators (Malcolm Roberts and Brian Burston).”

The One Nation leader praised her colleague’s dogged efforts to launch an inquiry into banking however, and said she would continue to pursue it personally.

Senator Hanson conceded he could still be working for the party even if he is kicked out of the Senate.

“If the High Court comes to the decision that he’s not entitled to stand in that seat it’ll go back to a recount. And in the recount we will win the seat and ... I could end up with his brother-in-law. I’m yet to meet his brother-in-law but Rod has indicated he wants to work with his brother-in-law so we’re on the same merry-go-round,” she said.