One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering has admitted using illegal drugs when he was younger and losing his driver’s licence multiple times for drink driving, while strongly denying allegations made by his former partner.
Pickering addressed reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday following reports about allegations made by his former partner, Jo Scott, concerning his past drug use.
The One Nation leader acknowledged using drugs including ecstasy, methamphetamine, speed and marijuana in his younger years, but rejected suggestions he had been a drug addict.
“Never would I have ever said that I was somebody who was a drug addict. I did use them … as a young man and I’m not proud of that,” Pickering said.
He also denied an allegation that he had smoked ice while children were in the home.
“No, I did not,” he said.
When questioned further about whether he had used ice, he responded: “ice is not on that list.”
After a reporter pointed out that ice is a form of methamphetamine, Pickering replied: “Well, speed”.
“Look, guys, I’m clearly not as familiar with the terms … as you would like me to be,” he said.
“I wasn’t an experienced drug taker.”
Pickering also confirmed he had lost his driver’s licence three times for drink driving.
“I believe I lost my licence for drink driving as an 18-year-old, and again as a 20-year-old, and then probably a decade later, I believe they were low-level drink driving,” he said.
The Victorian One Nation leader said he regretted his behaviour during that period of his life and acknowledged the impact it had on those close to him.
Pickering said his actions “hurt people I loved, and I will live with that forever”.
He said he later stopped using drugs and dramatically changed his life, including joining the Australian Defence Force, which he credited with giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
“That’s what inspired me to engage in the political sphere to provide service to community in a different way, post-service,” he said.
Pickering was joined at the press conference by his daughter, stepson and One Nation national director James Ashby.
The media appearance came after The Australian reported allegations from Scott, Pickering’s former partner of 18 years, including claims about drug use during their relationship.
Pickering has rejected allegations that he smoked ice in front of children and said he was receiving legal advice over the reports.
He said he was “working with the lawyers” to have the stories “taken” down and was considering possible defamation action.
Ashby also addressed reporting surrounding a handwritten note attributed to Pickering that referred to “sexual deviance”.
According to Ashby, the reference related to “behaviour that involved the couple’s open relationship”.
“They opened that relationship to a third person, and at the same time, Mr Pickering was exploring his own sexuality,” Ashby said.
Pickering has previously described the allegations against him as false and linked them to longstanding family law disputes.
The controversy comes at a crucial time for One Nation in Victoria, with Pickering set to contest the marginal lower house seat of Pakenham at the November state election.
Pickering was named the party’s Victorian leader last month.
