One Nation Senator Brian Burston ‘tried to defect’ to Shooters Party

Brian Burston’s claim he had made no effort to leave One Nation have been contradicted by the Shooters Party.

One nation Senator Brian Burston. Picture: Kym Smith

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak says his party rejected a move by Senator Brian Burston to defect from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Mr Borsak told The Australian Senator Burston approached his state director to “discuss the possibility” of him joining the Shooters party.

Speaking on Sky News tonight, Senator Burston was asked if he was considering leaving One Nation.

“I’ve got no intention of leaving,” Senator Burston said.

“The claim that I have approached the Shooters Party is totally and absolutely false.”

But Mr Borsak, a NSW Upper House MP, said his party rejected overtures from Senator Burston.

“Our state director came straight to me saying Brian wanted to meet to discuss the possibility of Burston coming to our party and I said ‘Thanks but no thanks’,” Mr Borsak said.

“We’re not going to be entertaining him joining our party. It took me about 3 minutes of discussions to work out there was nothing to discuss”

Senator Brian Burston says he is still a member @PaulineHansonOz's One Nation Party and says claims he tried to defect to another party 'are totally false'.

MORE: https://t.co/6yOY7oXVOl #theboltreport pic.twitter.com/cxHl7JGFl5

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 31, 2018

Mr Borsak’s comments are at odds with Senator’s Burston’s denials on Sky News tonight.

“I have never met Borsak. I’ve met (Shooters MP) Robert Brown, but I’ve never met Borsak nor spoken to him ever in my life,” he said.

• Pauline Hanson breaks down on live TV

Asked directly if he had made “any approach or initiated any conversations with any other political party”, Senator Burston said “no”.

Senator Burston – whose relationship with Senator Hanson has collapsed in recent weeks – said he would remain with One Nation unless “Pauline decides otherwise of course”.

Senator Brian Burston tells @PMOnAir he believes he can 'patch things up' with @PaulineHansonOz.

'I think there is a way through this.'

MORE: https://t.co/6yOY7oXVOl #theboltreport pic.twitter.com/E1XmyAohjV

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 31, 2018