Pauline Hanson responds after Mark Latham sensationally quits One Nation

Pauline Hanson has hit back after Mark Latham sensationally quit the party in a sudden and unexpected speech to parliament.

Pauline Hanson has fired back after two of One Nation’s three NSW MPs sensationally quit the party amid claims it had misappropriated more than $270,000 of taxpayer funds.

In a shock speech in parliament on Tuesday, former NSW leader Mark Latham and upper house MP Rod Roberts said they would remain in the parliament as independents.

It leaves Tania Mihailuk as One Nation’s lone representative.

In a letter to Special Minister of State John Graham, Mr Latham accused the party’s head office of spending the funds provided by the NSW Electoral Commission on two occasions.

Mr Latham claimed One Nation members tried to misused funds allocated to the state branch by the NSW Electoral Commission to purchase party merchandise. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

But the One Nation federal leader refuted the claims, and accused Mr Latham and Mr Roberts of scapegoating their responsibility for the party’s poor performance in NSW.

“I utterly reject the allegations made by these individuals under the protection of parliamentary privilege,” she said in a statement.

“Ultimately these men need to accept responsibility for their own actions instead of blaming literally anyone but themselves.

“Their response was entirely predictable – deflecting blame for their shortcomings onto others who have worked hard to grow our party’s vote in NSW.”

In the letter, Mr Latham alleged the party had misappropriated funds on two occasions: during the March 2019 and in September 2021.

“I have had highs and lows in public life, but I have always stuck to strong standards of honesty and integrity. I have never been accused of mishandling public money,” Mr Latham wrote.

Mark Latham is seen during Budget Estimates for Education inside NSW parliament in Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

“Within this ethos, I bring these matters to your attention knowing that you too have no time for the misuse of public money in public life.”

Mr Latham alleged the party’s Brisbane head office had spent $102,000 in payments from the NSW Electoral Commission in September 2021 to purchase “conveyor belts, other fixed equipment and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation merchandise (hats, T-shirts, sun screen etc)”.

He said the items were also stored in Brisbane.

The second allegation involved the party attempting to purchase $200,00 in electoral merchandise, despite Mr Latham’s claims it should have only cost $30,000.

The matters have been referred to the NSW Electoral Commission.

In a statement, Senator Hanson said One Nation’s national and state finances were regularly audited by chartered accountants, and the NSW and Australian electoral commissions.

Claims referred to the NSW Electoral Commission

Mr Graham publicly acknowledged the “serious allegations” made by Mr Latham and Mr Roberts and assured the matter would now be handled by the NSW Electoral Commission.

“It should be noted that the Electoral Funding Act already provides a strong framework for regulating the use of public funds,” he said.

“In relation to the Elections Campaign Fund, a party can only receive payments in relation to actual campaign expenditure of the party and this does not include expenditure for elections outside NSW, or federal elections.

“It is an offence under the Act for a person to provide information to the NSW Electoral Commission that the person knows to be false or misleading.”

Special Minister of the State John Graham has referred the allegations to the NSW Electoral Office. Picture: NewsWire/ Nicholas Eagar

Despite the fracas, Ms Mihailuk is sticking by the party and vowed to do so for “many years to come”.

She said that while she was “disappointed” by the actions of her now former colleagues, she thanked them for their contributions.

“To One Nation supporters I say this: No individual is bigger than our great party. One Nation remains the best party to hold the Labor/Greens controlled government to account,” she said.

Ms Mihailuk said she would “carefully examine the merits of these allegations,” and said she was only made aware of the allegations when raised by Mr Latham and Mr Roberts in parliament.

Former One Nation MP Rod Roberts also made the decision to quit the party. Picture: NSW One Nation

Mr Latham’s shock exit follows the party’s decision to ditch him as the state leader on August 9.

He hasbeen critical of One Nation, alleging members have attempted to defraud payments from the NSW Electoral Fund. He’s also accused the Queensland branch has tried takeover of the party.

Mr Roberts, who is also the deputy president of the upper house, reiterated Mr Latham’s allegations, and insisted the funds were not used “in relation to NSW’s interests or purposes”.

“I’m aware by doing this, I am committing political suicide and extinguish any further political ambition I may harbour,” he said.

“This was not an easy decision to make, and one done after extensive political consideration.”