Senator quits One Nation

ONE Nation’s NSW senator Brian Burston has quit the party after a bitter war of words over his position on company tax cuts ended his political relationship with leader Pauline Hanson.

Senator Burston yesterday confirmed his resignation and plans to serve as an independent, leaving One Nation with just two members.

But he’s also called on his former party colleague Peter Georgiou to “honour the deal” made with the Government to pass company tax cuts.

The Turnbull Government will be working to build its numbers in the Upper House to pass the legislation before Parliament’s winter break at the end of this month.

“My father taught all us kids that once you shake hands with somebody – that’s it,” Senator Burston said. “I was saddened to be asked by Senator Hanson to resign from the party and the Senate for sticking to my word.”

He said the decision was announced with a heavy heart.

The party “should be called ‘Gone Nation’ instead of One Nation”, he told Fairfax Media, claiming Senator Hanson’s decision-making style meant there was no democracy in the party.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Government would continue to convince crossbenchers to back the taxcuts legislation, whichever party they belonged to.