Brian Burston

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Brian Burston
United Australia Party
in the Senate
In office
18 June 2018 (2018-06-18) – 30 June 2019 (2019-06-30)
LeaderClive Palmer
Preceded byGlenn Lazarus
Succeeded byRalph Babet
Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party
In office
24 May 2007 (2007-05-24) – 31 March 2010 (2010-03-31)
LeaderPauline Hanson
Preceded byParty created
Succeeded byParty dissolved
National Director of One Nation
In office
4 October 2000 (2000-10-04) – 5 August 2002 (2002-08-05)
Alongside David Ettridge
LeaderJohn Fischer
Preceded byDavid Oldfield
Succeeded byIan Nelson
Personal details
Born25 February 1948
Sydney Institute of TAFE
Sydney Teachers' College
OccupationBoilermaker
Draftsman
Politician

Brian Burston (born 25 February 1948) is a former Australian politician. He was a

United Australia Party. Palmer announced Burston as the new parliamentary leader of the party on 18 June 2018, but Burston failed to win re-election at the 2019 federal election.[2]

Early life

Burston was born and grew up in

draftsman
. He was employed at the former Newcastle Teachers College.

He has been a councillor on

Cessnock City Council. He married at the age of 22, had three children and later divorced. He married his second wife, a teacher named Rosie, in 2008. Their home overlooks Lake Macquarie.[3]

Burston became a member of Pauline Hanson's One Nation soon after its inception.[4] He is a former National Director of One Nation, having served alongside David Ettridge. In concert with the overthrow and imprisonment of Pauline Hanson, Burston left Pauline Hanson's One Nation and joined One Nation NSW, a splinter group of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, founded and led by David Oldfield. After Oldfield abandoned One Nation NSW, Burston rejoined Pauline Hanson's One Nation.

Senator (2016–2019)

After Burston was elected to the Senate at the

party whip.[5]

In his maiden speech to parliament, Burston warned that large-scale immigration was undermining social cohesion, placing pressure on infrastructure and housing affordability and increasing crime in Australia.[6] He also criticised "aggressive multiculturalism", stating:

It seems that every group pride is promoted in the media and schools except for ours, the nation's. The

NITV – serve immigrants and indigenous Australians. The national flag is often ignored or dishonoured in schools, while multiculturalism and indigenous issues are now part of the curriculum. The majority of students are not supported in their Anglo-Australian
identity, but are made to feel guilty for supposed historical injustices committed by their ancestors.

Burston is a public opponent of

same sex marriage, and was one of twelve senators who voted against what became the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017.[7] In 2017, he was one of ten senators to vote in favour of Cory Bernardi's motion to ban gender-selective abortion. It was defeated by ten votes to 36.[8][9]

In May 2018, Burston announced he would support the

United Australia Party, as party leader.[2][14] He became part of the economically conservative voting bloc formed by crossbench Senators David Leyonhjelm, Cory Bernardi and Fraser Anning.[15]

In February 2019, Burston accused fellow Party Leader and Senator Pauline Hanson of sexual harassment, in an incident which occurred in 1998.[16] Burston was defeated at the 2019 federal election.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Senate results – AEC tally room". Australian Electoral Commission. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Gribbin, Caitlyn (18 June 2018). "Brian Burston joins Clive Palmer's United Australia Party as Senate leader". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. Sydney Morning Herald
    . Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. ^ "One Nation Candidates". Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. ^ "PARTY OFFICE HOLDERS: Pauline Hanson's One Nation". ParlInfo. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. ^ "First Speech". Parliament of Australia. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Senate passes same-sex marriage bill". News.com.au. News Limited. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Motions - Abortion - Gender grounds". They Vote For You. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Cory Bernardi is using provocative motions to make ideological points in the Senate". ABC News. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  10. ^ Gribbin, Caitlyn (24 May 2018). "Former One Nation whip says he won't 'have a dummy spit' after being demoted by Pauline Hanson". ABC News. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Pauline Hanson fights tears on national television, claims One Nation senator Brian Burston has tried to defect". ABC News. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Pauline Hanson to lose 'self-serving' senator after company tax row". Smh.com.au. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  13. ^ "One Nation senator Brian Burston quits party after prolonged feud with Pauline Hanson". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  14. ^ Crowe, David (25 October 2019). "Democracy for sale: what did Clive Palmer get for his $50m-plus?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  15. ^ "The tax cut battle explained in less than two minutes". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Brian Burston levels sexual harassment allegations at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson". ABC.net. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Senator Brian Burston". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

External links