Former One Nation senator Brian Burston is officially out of the party, marking the end of a vivid and dramatic stoush between him and leader Pauline Hanson.
Burston confirmed that he has jumped ship and will continue to serve as an independent, after a public blow-up between him and Hanson over the Coalition government’s proposed company tax cuts.
It wasn’t that long ago that Hanson voiced her support for the plan, before executing a huge backflip. Burston said he’d continue to uphold his support, which lead to an furious Hanson complaining about his alleged backstabbery on Sky News.
She called on Burston to resign so she could attempt to fill his seat. That plan has obviously failed.
A draft statement from Burston said the party should be entitled “Gone Nation,” and that he was deeply upset by being asked to renege on the deal he agreed with Finance Minister Matthias Cormann.
“My father taught all us kids that once you shake hands with somebody – that’s it,” Burston said.
“I was saddened to be asked by Senator Hanson to resign from the party and the Senate for sticking to my word.”
Burston also called for One Nation’s other remaining senator, WA’s Peter Georgiou, to run away and never look back.
One more thing: he made it Facebook official, too. His cover photo changed late last night. Here’s the before and after:
Damning.
Burston’s defection is just the latest in a long string of embarrassments for One Nation, which you can read all about HERE.
