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'Unusual Beast' Rod Culleton Rules Out Attending His High Court Case

Looks like the sheep fleece will have to wait.
Senator Rod Culleton says he cannot possibly attend the proposed directions hearing.
Andrew Meares, Fairfax
Senator Rod Culleton says he cannot possibly attend the proposed directions hearing.

CANBERRA – Describing himself as an "unusual beast", One Nation Senator Rod Culleton has announced he won't be attending next Monday's High Court hearing on the validity of his election.

The High Court is set to decide the West Australian's future in parliament after the Senate referred to it his election as a possible breach of the constitution.

After previously stating he was up for the fight of his life and he would represent himself in the High Court wearing a sheep's fleece, Culleton posted a "**HIGH COURT UPDATE**" on Facebook saying he would not attend.

Monday's hearing is a directions hearing on the case which hinges on whether a larceny conviction that Culleton had at the time of the July 2 double dissolution election disqualifies him from holding office.

The Huffington Post Australia has confirmed the High Court will proceed with or without the attendance of Senator Culleton.

The One Nation representative has railed against the highest court in the land -- which would sit as the Court of Disputed Returns -- and states he "cannot possibly attend the proposed directions hearing" for the three following reasons:

  • 1. I cannot be called up to court on a Parliamentary sitting day under the Parliamentary Privileges Act.
  • 2. I have not been provided with any official documentation or referral regarding being required to attend the High Court this Monday.
  • 3. The High Court has not yet addressed their errors in their rules which was admitted by Brandis in the Senate. They must first fix this so that it abides by the High Court of Australia Act 1979.

Culleton said he had spoken to the High Court by phone.

"They have no idea what is going on with my case which I am apparently appearing at on Monday," Culleton wrote.

"They have described it as an 'unusual beast' so I said that I was a bit of an unusual beast myself."

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