Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce have publicly backed Warren Pickering, One Nation’s Victorian leader, as the party faces scrutiny over disputed claims about his personal history.
The claims, many of which are said to date back more than 10 years, have prompted fresh questions about Pickering’s standing within One Nation and whether senior figures were aware of the allegations before he was elevated to the party’s Victorian leadership.
Hanson, speaking to journalists in Canberra on Monday, sought to shut down the issue, repeatedly characterising the matter as personal and making clear she was not withdrawing her support for Pickering.
“This is a personal matter. We’ve responded to it and I’ve got nothing more to say,” she said.
Pressed on whether Pickering had disclosed any past drug use during One Nation’s vetting process, Hanson refused to go further.
‘As I said, this is a family matter. It’s a personal matter for Warren Pickering, and I’ve made my comments,’ she said.
Reporters challenged Hanson over whether voters had a right to know about allegations relating to a senior politician and if similar claims about another party would prompt greater scrutiny.
Hanson (right) and Joyce (left) defended Pickering when asked about the drug allegations
Hanson stood firm, insisting the allegations were disputed.
‘These are allegations that were put to One Nation and he has denied those allegations,’ she said.
‘There is quite an extensive story there…. I suggest that I will not be commenting further.’
Asked whether she continued to support Pickering as the party’s Victorian leader, Hanson reiterated her defence.
‘It is a personal situation. He has said he denies the false allegations that have been made against him,’ she said.
Joyce, standing with Hanson, urged caution about treating the allegations as fact.
‘That issue is contested. Let’s first of all say it’s contested,’ he said.
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‘It’s not proven and I know everybody is going to be very careful about saying the word allegation because otherwise we end up in all sorts of problems.’
Pickering (pictured) has denied the allegations, calling them ‘false’ and ‘extremely hurtful’
Joyce also noted Pickering went on to serve in the Australian Defence Force, and emphasised that the claims refer to events from many years ago.
‘Remember, subsequent to that he was enlisted and served in the Australian Defence Force. He managed to serve our nation,’ he said.
The controversy follows a report in The Australian detailing allegations by Scott, 54, about their former relationship.
The paper reported the claims were backed by handwritten letters and text messages allegedly sent by Pickering apologising for his behaviour when ‘on the shit’, ‘on the gear’ and ‘using substances’.
According to the report, Pickering allegedly wrote during a difficult period in 2011 and 2012 that ‘the drugs’ were to blame for his self-described ‘sexual deviance’.
The article also cited a former member of the couple’s social circle who claimed to have witnessed Pickering smoking ice at a property in Garfield, in Victoria’s west Gippsland, on numerous occasions between 2006 and 2010.
Pickering has rejected the allegations in full.
‘These allegations are false,’ he said in a written statement to the Australian.
Pickering (centre) is One Nation’s Victorian leader and is running for the state upper house
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‘They are extremely hurtful and I just hope the public can see through them.’
He also claimed Scott attempted to use what he described as ‘false and salacious’ allegations during family law disputes dating back to 2010, saying those claims had been routinely dismissed.
While denying the latest allegations, Pickering reportedly refused to answer specific written questions from The Australian regarding alleged ice use and apparent admissions in the correspondence cited by the paper.