Fraser Anning has sensationally quit One Nation before taking his place in the Senate, abandoning the party to sit as an independent.
Senator Anning was sworn in on Monday, flanked by crossbench senators David Leyonhjelm and Cory Bernardi, rather than One Nation leader Pauline Hanson or the party’s other senators.
Senator Hanson revealed he left the party after his swearing-in, saying he would stand as an independent until ‘something else came along’.
Fraser Anning (pictured) has sensationally quit One Nation before taking his place in the Senate, abandoning the party to sit as an independent
Senator Anning (pictured, middle) was sworn in on Monday, flanked by crossbench senators David Leyonhjelm (pictured, left) and Cory Bernardi (pictured, right), rather than One Nation leader Pauline Hanson or the party’s other senators
In a statement Ms Hanson said she ‘asked Senators Burston and Georgiou to mediate with Mr Anning to find some common ground, but they were informed Mr Anning would stand as an Independent only minutes before he was sworn into the Senate.’
The news is a major blow for One Nation, leaving it with only three votes from Ms Hanson, and senators Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou.
Ms Hanson accused former employees of dumped senator Malcolm Roberts of ‘encouraging him to move to Corey Bernardi’s party.’
‘I was disappointed Mr Anning made no attempt to contact me or any One Nation executive member off the back of multiple requests to discuss his future plans.
In a statement (pictured) Ms Hanson said she ‘asked Senators Burston and Georgiou to mediate with Mr Anning to find some common ground, but they were informed Mr Anning would stand as an Independent only minutes before he was sworn into the Senate.’
‘Instead he chose to release scathing media releases demanding I pledge my support to him without even meeting or speaking to him,’ Ms Hanson said.
Mr Anning was confirmed as Mr Robert’s replacement by the High Court on Friday after Mr Roberts was disqualified for holding dual citizenship.
The senator was third on One Nation’s Queensland senate ticket behind Ms Hanson and Mr Roberts, but received only 77 personal votes, The Australian reported.
The news is a major blow for One Nation, leaving it with only three votes from Ms Hanson, and senators Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou (pictured is new senator Fraser Anning, centre, arriving for his swearing in with David Leyonhjelm, left, and Cory Bernardi, right)