Controversial WA Senate candidate Rodney Culleton convicted of Albany traffic offences

WA Senate candidate Rodney Culleton failed to show up to his hearing at Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, when he was convicted of a string of traffic offences. The former One Nation and independent senator was sentenced in his absence, receiving a $1150 fine for five offences. He was found guilty of driving a vehicle contrary to the conditions of a permit, failing to provide personal details, travelling while a part of his body was protruding, using an unlicensed vehicle on a road, and wilfully misleading a person performing a function under a road law. The 57-year-old represented himself in Albany Magistrates Court on April 14 at his first appearance on the charges, when he argued with Magistrate Dianne Scaddan and called for her to recuse herself from presiding. Culleton is listed on the Great Australian Party website as its leader and candidate for WA in Saturday’s Federal election. However, he has been referred to the Australian Federal Police for potentially submitting a false election candidate nomination. The AEC revealed last month Culleton did not declare bankruptcy on the application, which could be in breach of a declaration of financial situation requirement under section 44 of the Constitution. Speaking in court on Thursday, Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock said Culleton was driving a Nissan Patrol south on Albany Highway in Mt Barker at 5.25pm on March 16, when his vehicle’s number plate alerted an automatic plate recognition camera. He was stopped by police on private property, where he told officers the vehicle registration had expired two years earlier. Police asked for his name but he repeatedly refused, instead choosing “to call his lawyer for advice”, Sgt Loverock said. Culleton said he had a permit to drive the vehicle from March 16-18 but he refused to provide the conditions of the permit to police. He then claimed the permit allowed him to take the vehicle to Albany for repairs, but police inquiries found the temporary permit was for a drive from Frankland River to South Perth, and it was invalid because the vehicle was unlicensed. Culleton was charged for driving with a body part protruding after the AMPR camera captured his right arm hanging out the window and resting on the external door panel, Sgt Loverock said. Ms Scaddan said the facts of the offences represented several failures by Culleton to comply with road and traffic laws. Culleton was fined $1150 and ordered to pay $502 in other costs. He was due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 10 to face a charge of assaulting a public officer, but he opted to answer his bail at the Mandurah Courthouse. The case was adjourned until June 8.