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Senator No More. Mr Culleton Goes To Canberra

And just hung out.
Rod Culleton in the marble foyer during his visit to Parliament House
Alex Ellinghausen/Fairfax
Rod Culleton in the marble foyer during his visit to Parliament House

CANBERRA -- In the midst of the drama of Cory Bernardi defecting from the Liberal Party, a bizarre performance was underway across the federal parliament.

Disqualified senator Rod Culleton was true to his word and turned up to the opening day of parliament to just be seen.

Without his politician perks, office and title, the former one Nation representative in Western Australia had to go through the public entrances and security like the rest of us.

And with his propensity for theatrics, parliament house security was keeping an eye on him.

What would or could Culleton do?

Culleton cut a lonely figure as he sat in the Senate's public gallery, looking down at his former colleagues and comfortable seat.

The former Senator was not acknowledged and not ignored as the Senate President outlined his sacking and confirmed he actually owes the taxpayer his pay and super.

He clearly misses being a Senator and still challenges all those court rulings -- including, you know, the High Court -- that he was ineligible to stand for election with a conviction and was disqualified from holding the office of Senator as he is insolvent.

"Well I tried my best... and did what I could for the Australian people but the court system is killing democracy," Culleton posted on Facebook.

It is not certain what Culleton is attempting to do, apart from saying I am here and I am not going away.

Well security may have something to say about that.

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