One Nation boss sacked for opioid use as party rehires rapist

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation terminated the employment of its national secretary allegedly in part due to his opioid use, and has since rehired a convicted rapist.

One Nation senator and founder Pauline Hanson with national secretary Damian Huxham

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation terminated the employment of its national secretary allegedly in part due to use of prescription opioids, and has since rehired convicted rapist Sean Black.

The minor party’s candidate turned long-time national secretary Damian Huxham was made redundant before Christmas.

While One Nation has insisted he was terminated due to a restructure, The Courier-Mail understands Mr Huxham’s alleged conduct was the cause of his exit.

A person familiar with the matter claimed Mr Huxham had failed to turn up to work in One Nation’s Brisbane headquarters and not met key performance indicators while he was suffering an addiction to prescription opioids.

They argued the former miner, who first stood as a One Nation candidate in Hinkler at the 2016 federal election, had failed to secure candidates for the current federal election.

Mr Huxham declined to comment.

It is understood Mr Huxham’s use of prescription opioids was as a result of a shoulder reconstruction last year and he received a medical certificate to take several months off work.

A claim of unfair dismissal was mediated before it went to the Fair Work Commission, but the outcome was not revealed.

Convicted rapist Sean Black has been rehired by the party.

In December Mr Huxham made a statement about the termination on his Facebook page.

“I have been on and off medical leave since elective shoulder surgery in August,” he said.

“During that time One Nation has chosen to terminate my employment.

“I’d like to thank the great people I worked with during the last 10 years involved with the party.”

A spokesman for One Nation said Mr Huxham’s position had been made redundant.

“There has been a restructure of positions within party headquarters that has led to the redundancy of a small number of positions within the party,” he said.

Mr Huxham in January posted a photo of himself in a pool with an LNP-branded stubby cooler.

He is involved in the Coalition campaign to hold Hinkler – covering Bundaberg and Hervey Bay – following the February appointment of MP Keith Pitt as Ambassador to the Holy See.

Since Mr Huxham’s dismissal One Nation has quietly appointed convicted rapist Sean Black to the party.

The former media adviser to Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts was convicted in 2018 for the rape and assault of a woman in 2007.

Mr Black has been organising candidates leading into the May 3 federal election.

Senator Roberts is up for re-election on May 3 while party boss Senator Hanson won’t face the voters again until June 30, 2028 at the latest.

Originally published as One Nation boss sacked for opioid use as party rehires rapist