Following Pauline Hanson’s takeover of the NSW branch of One Nation, NSW MPs Mark Latham and Rod Roberts have resigned from the organization.
The two will continue serving as independents in the upper house.
In a letter to special minister of state John Graham that was sent under parliamentary privilege, Latham claimed that the party had attempted to divert funds from the NSW Electoral Commission.
In a statement to the legislature today, Latham said: “Following the recent Queensland One Nation takeover of the NSW branch, I cannot remain as a One Nation MP due to past attempts at defrauding NSW electoral funds and the appointment of a new state executive orchestrated to repeat these rorts.”
The claims have been forwarded to the NSW Electoral Commission by the NSW government.
Amit Batish, the state director for One Nation, stated that the group would welcome any impartial investigation once the accusations were denied.
“We are a political party that is open and responsible. With the NSW Electoral Commission, we have always collaborated and had productive conversations. This will remain the situation.
The firebrand MP was upset by the removal of Latham as One Nation’s NSW leader earlier this month.
Pauline Hanson, the leader of One Nation, was charged of organizing the “bizarre” takeover without seeking input.
After One Nation’s vote dropped by 14% in the state election in March 2023, Hanson declared that the party needed to change.
