Pauline Hanson opposes federal ICAC after ‘disgusting’ treatment of Gladys Berejiklian

Gladys Berejiklian has received support from an extremely unlikely source - One Nation senator Pauline Hanson.

Pauline Hanson says the treatment of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian by the state’s anti-corruption watchdog was “absolutely disgusting”, and has vehemently opposed the idea of a federal commission.

Asked to comment on allegations Victorian Liberal MP Michael Sukkar was aware of branch stacking within his faction, Ms Hanson said there was “nothing to pursue here”.

Ms Hanson said as far as she was concerned, the Department of Finance had investigated Mr Sukkar last year and found nothing untoward.

She went on to add that the idea of a federal anti-corruption commission, in a similar vein to the NSW ICAC, was something she had “grave concerns” about, given the treatment of Ms Berejiklian.

Ms Berejiklian resigned as premier in September, after she was called to give testimony as to how much she knew of the corrupt actions of her former boyfriend and disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

Senator Pauline Hanson says she doesn’t want to see a ‘political witch trial’ in the form of a federal ICAC. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Hanson said it was “disgusting”.

“That poor woman, her private life was dragged through the mud and they made that public,” Ms Hanson told Sky News.

“That was her private life, it had nothing to do with the case that I believe about whether she gave the minister extra assistance with money

“But to drag up about her private life, her boyfriend, and that she was in love with him, that they were talking about having children and all the rest of it … What’s that got to do with that?”

When asked whether she believed voters were entitled to know about Ms Berejiklian’s relationship with Mr Maguire, given his behaviour, Ms Hanson said it was “nobody’s business”.

“And whether the two people are having a relationship together because they happen to be politicians, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business,” she said.

“This is why I don’t get involved in it. If it impacts on their decision making, then that needs to be accounted for.

“I’m not going to agree to a national crime and misconduct commission if it comes down to my vote, because I’ve seen what happened in NSW and these other states.

“I believe in accountability by all means, but I will not see a political witch hunt go against people and destroy their lives and careers and their families.”