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It Has 'Gone To His Head', Hanson And Culleton Can't Have A Civil Conversation

And apparently he thinks he won his Senate seat in his own name.
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says Rod Culleton
Alec Ellinghausen, Fairfax
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says Rod Culleton

CANBERRA -- Pauline Hanson has exposed the extent of the breakdown in relations within her own One Nation party -- revealing rogue Senator Rod Culleton does not like her authority, talks over the top of her and allegedly thinks he won his Senate seat in his own name.

In an extraordinary spray, the One Nation leader has told Sydney radio 2GB that Culleton, who has crossed the floor against his own party and is in the midst of a High Court investigation into the validity of his election, is "not a team player at all".

Hanson added: "We can't work with him. You can't reason with him."

"You can't give him advice. He runs his own race. That is not teamwork."

Culleton defied One Nation late last week by going against a deal Hanson struck with the Treasurer Scott Morrison for a 15 percent backpacker tax, instead supporting Labor's preferred rate of 10.5 percent.

'He is not a team player': Pauline Hanson launches an extraordinary spray at Rod Culleton https://t.co/DuTZwToRKp

— Henry Belot (@Henry_Belot) December 6, 2016

It ended up at 15 percent after a surprise deal was struck with the Greens, leaving Hanson exasperated.

"They're all over the bloody place. They wouldn't have a clue what the hell they're doing," she said.

Describing Culleton as a "new kid on the block ... telling me what to do," she said: "He would make a very good senator if he could only take direction."

Culleton, One Nation's West Australian representative, confirmed to Fairfax media on Monday "there is a rift in the party" over his push for a banking royal commission and he is reconsidering his political allegiances.

"Pauline has got to have a pooey or get off the potty and either start supporting rural and regional Australia through this Royal Commission or things will start to fester," Culleton declared.

"He's got a great idea about the Royal Commission in banking which I will pursue," Hanson added, labelling Culleton's comments as "rubbish".

"Honestly I think a whole lot has gone to his head. He loves the limelight. He loves the publicity," she told host Ray Hadley.

"He is of the opinion he won the seat on his name."

Certainly, the party is not called "Rod Culleton's One Nation," leading to Hanson's frustration.

"I don't think he likes my authority, put it that way," she said.

"We can't work with him, you can't reason with him": Pauline Hanson unloads on egomaniac Rod Culleton https://t.co/T85QeLDcPN

— Michael Klausiol (@michaelkoziol) December 6, 2016

Asked to elaborate, Hanson revealed: "I start talking to him, and then, you know, laying down some ground rules and he says 'stop, stop don't go any further otherwise I am out of here'.

"You can't have a decent conversation with someone telling you to stop because they don't want to hear these things."

While it is very public rift, all hope is not lost that One Nation will become one again, with Hanson offering this very obvious piece of advice.

"I wish he would just rein himself in and actually become a team player as the other two senators," she said.

He may not have long. Culleton will face the High Court later this week in a bid to retain his Senate seat.

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