Source : Perth Now news
Political allies including Pauline Hanson have leapt to the defence of One Nation’s leader in Victoria after revelations of past drug use and drink drinking.
Warren Pickering sensationally admitted on Tuesday to taking speed, ecstasy and marijuana in his 20s and losing his licence three times for “low level” drink driving at age 18, 20 and about a decade later.
The former combat engineer’s admissions, made when flanked by his daughter and stepson, came after The Australian newspaper published a series of allegations raised by his former partner of almost 20 years, Jo Scott.
Mr Pickering, who is standing for the lower house seat of Pakenham in the November state election, denied ever being a drug addict or using ice, also known as crystal methamphetamine, while their children were home.
A handwritten note written by Mr Pickering referring to “sexual deviance” related to behaviour after the couple opened their relationship to a third person at a time when Mr Pickering was “exploring his own sexuality”, One Nation’s national director James Ashby said.
In a lengthy social media post, Ms Hanson said major parties should reflect on their own shortcomings before condemning Mr Pickering.
“Warren’s story shows a man who confronted his mistakes, changed the direction of his life and chose not to remain defined by the worst decisions of his youth,” the federal leader of One Nation wrote.
Federal One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce commended Mr Pickering for correcting the record after the 43-year-old previously rejected all of Ms Scott’s claims.
“If people turn their life around, you can either pat them on the back as an example of what everybody should do (or) you can kick them in the knee,” Mr Joyce told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
“I’m not in the group to want to kick some in the knees.”
Victorian One Nation MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell said Mr Pickering had previously disclosed elements of his past to her, including drug use.
She backed him remaining the state party leader and believes coming clean might resonate with the public.
“It shows that we are real people,” Ms Tyrrell told reporters at state parliament.
Mr Pickering found an unlikely ally in Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank, who said it was “very disturbing” to witness him being “stigmatised”.
“I don’t agree with him on a lot of political issues but he doesn’t deserve to be criminalised now for things that he’s done in his past,” said Mr Ettershank, a long-term recreational and medicinal cannabis user.
Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams said people deserved an opportunity to rebuild their lives but described some of allegations against Mr Pickering as “very serious”.
One Nation has promised to “get tough” on crime in Victoria and any visa holder who breaks the law would be deported under the federal party’s immigration platform.
The leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, suggested the strict stances, in light of Mr Pickering’s admissions, highlighted One Nation’s “hypocrisy”.
