One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has broken down during an interview, saying she has been ‘deeply hurt’ by a colleague who allegedly tried to defect to a different party.
Ms Hanson became emotional while speaking to Ben Fordham on Sky News about One Nation Senator Brian Burston’s decision to support the Coalition government’s plan for corporate tax cuts.
She said Mr Burston had ‘stabbed [her] in the back’.
‘For him to turn around and do this to me – it’s hard. But I’m going to keep going and get good people in that parliament beside me, because it means so much to me to help the people that need help,’ she said.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has broken down during an interview, saying she is ‘deeply hurt’ by a colleague who allegedly tried to defect to a different party
Ms Hanson became emotional while speaking about One Nation Senator Brian Burston’s (left) decision to support the Coalition government’s plan for corporate tax cuts
‘You think I’m going to let Brian Burston or anyone else finish me, they will not just sit on the seats and do absolutely nothing and think they can have a cosy ride and collect taxpayers funds and not work for it.’
Mr Burston disputed Ms Hanson’s account that he had met with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, and insisted he would not leave One Nation.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party spokesman Robert Borsak confirmed to Fairfax Media that Mr Burston had contacted them with an approach to join them.
‘It took us about five minutes to say there’s nothing to talk about,’ Mr Borsak said.
‘There’s no common ground in relation to him. We said thank you but no thanks.’
Mr Burston disputed those claims.
‘The claim that I’ve approached the Shooters’ party is totally and absolutely false. I’ve never met Borsak, nor spoken to him ever in my life.’
After Ms Hanson’s interview, Mr Burston said he could work things out with the One Nation leader.
After Ms Hanson’s interview, Mr Burston said he could work things out with the One Nation leader
‘I’ve never stabbed Pauline Hanson in the back. Many years ago she suspended me from the party when I worked for David Oldfield and I was collateral damage,’ Senator Burston said.
‘She was the one who approached me to come back into the party, so it was hardly a falling out between Pauline and I.’
Mr Burston said he had no intent of breaking up One Nation.