New One Nation MP David Farley has sided with the Greens and Teal MPs in a controversial vote to cap fuel tax credit rebates for large mining companies.
Mr Farley also voted alongside Greens and Teals on a failed motion, by Kooyong MP Monique Ryan, to pursue futher gambling reforms.
The move has prompted critics to claim Mr Farley’s true colours “do not appear to be One Nation’s orange”.
The rogue vote comes after Mr Farley split with official One Nation policies on a few occasions since becoming a representative of the party.
Sky News understands that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has given Mr Farley a “please explain” and held a lengthy conversation to clarify what happened.
Mr Farley voted with the Teals and Greens on an amendment moved by independent MP Nicolette Boele before debate wrapped in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Labor and the Coalition opposed the measure, which would have capped rebates under the fuel tax credit scheme at $50 million a year for mining companies.
The funds would then be redirected to renewables infrastructure and an “orderly phase-out of fuels” eligible under the scheme.
The amendment was defeated, but Mr Farley’s vote has sparked speculation about where his allegiances really lie.
Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson told Sky News on Wednesday that the vote showed One Nation was “all over the place”.
“Well, it’s a fascinating revelation … It shows they’re all over the place in terms of their agenda and what they’re doing, what they’re voting for,” Mr Wilson told Sky News.
“I don’t really know where it is they stand or who they’re fighting for, but that’s a matter for them.”
Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable said Mr Farley had squandered an opportunity to prove himself as a regional MP.
“It was really disappointing … David Farley is a regional member, and it was his first big opportunity to show what he’s made of,” Ms Constable told Sky News.
“And he voted against regional Australia. He voted against the farmers, the fishers, the construction industry. He voted against the miners.
“And we’re really deeply disappointed that he threw his lot in with the Greens and the Teals.”
Mr Farley, who was elected in the Farrer by-election last month, denied that he had been caught off guard by the speed of the vote.
The rookie One Nation MP, in his second sitting week, was alone in the chamber without colleague Barnaby Joyce who is overseas at the ARC conference.
The vote is the latest example of Mr Farley diverging from his party’s traditional positions during his short time in federal parliament.
Ahead of the Farrer by-election, Mr Farley initially broke with One Nation’s immigration stance, declaring that annual migration of 306,000 people was “probably not” too high.
He later clarified his position, saying One Nation would cap immigration at 130,000 a year.
Mr Farley also put himself at odds with party leader Pauline Hanson after announcing he would fly the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
Ms Hanson said she had not been aware of the decision and reiterated One Nation’s policy that only the Australian flag should be flown.
Before Tuesday’s vote, Mr Farley also appeared on the ABC and acknowledged Australia was “multicultured”, as Ms Hanson calls for a “monoculture”.
“What is Australia? It is what we are today. Now, you could say it’s multi, it’s multicultured… But it is Australia, and it is Australian first,” Mr Farley said.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Mr Farley’s rogue vote raised serious questions about One Nation’s direction.
“I was shocked though that One Nation’s only representative in the parliament yesterday, David Farley, voted with the Teal and the Greens,” Mr Canavan said.
“I think now Pauline Hanson has to come out and clarify what is One Nation’s position here on the fuel excise.”
One Nation’s position is to halve the fuel excise to 26 cents per litre for three years with a review after 12 months.
Asked whether Mr Farley deserved some leeway as a first-term MP, Mr Canavan replied: “Well, look, I don’t think this is a place for training wheels.”
He said the episode cast doubt over the calibre of future One Nation MPs if the party’s surging support translated into more seats.
“Well I think David’s vote yesterday puts a massive question mark over any One Nation candidate in the country,” Mr Canavan said.
“I mean, how do you know what you are going to get?”