Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is guaranteed at least two Senate seats after her candidate, Rod Culleton, won the 11th seat in Western Australia.
But doubts remain about the validity of his position. He may be ineligible because he is yet to be sentenced over a New South Wales conviction for stealing a key from a towtruck driver who was trying to repossess a car his company had leased.
The Australia Electoral Commission announced the final count on Monday.
The Greens have retained their two WA Senate seats after Rachel Siewert claimed the 12th and final seat.
Overall the Liberal party won five seats, the Labor party four, the Greens two and One Nation one.
Culleton may not be able to claim his seat because Australia’s constitution bans people from being federal members of parliament if they are awaiting or serving sentences for crimes that carry sentences of 12 months’ jail or more.
As well as Culleton’s conviction in NSW, he is also due to face a four-day trial in Perth magistrates court this month over allegations he stole a hire car last year from bank-appointed receivers who had begun foreclosure proceedings at a friend’s farm.
If he is deemed ineligible to represent WA, the seat may go to the second or third candidates on One Nation’s WA ticket: Culleton’s brother-in-law, Peter Georgiou, or his wife, Ioanna Culleton.
One Nation could claim a third Senate spot if its NSW candidate, Brian Burston, is successful. Burston is a former deputy mayor of Cessnock and former national director of the party.
On Monday Siewert posted on Twitter: “Really happy I’ve been returned to the Senate, big thanks to the team & volunteers.”
WA senators elected:
1. Mathias Cormann (Lib)
2. Sue Lines (Labor)
3. Scott Ludlam (Greens)
4. Michaelia Cash (Lib)
5. Glenn Sterle (Labor)
6. Dean Smith (Lib)
7. Pat Dodson (Labor)
8. Linda Reynolds (Lib)
9. Chris Back (Lib)
10. Louise Pratt (Labor)
11. Rod Culleton (One Nation)
12. Rachel Siewert (Greens)
