‘Very sad’: Hinch reacts to Cumming departure on 3AW Drive

The Justice Party’s foray into Victorian politics has already fractured, with leader Derryn Hinch booting troublesome MP Catherine Cumming from the party.

As first reported on 3AW by Neil Mitchell, Ms Cumming had been rumoured to be on the way out for several days.

Today, Senator Hinch said he had disendorsed Ms Cumming because of demands to become leader.

“She also showed an inordinate amount of interest in the $800,000 per year she’d have earned as an Independent,” Hinch claimed in an interview with 3AW Drive.

“I’m very sad about it.

“I heard stuff on 3AW, people saying she was going to walk away.”

Click PLAY below to hear Derryn Hinch with Justin Smith on Tuesday

“She told other Justice Party MPs ‘If you don’t elect me as leader I will throw my toys out of the pram. I will quit’,” Mr Hinch claimed in a statement.

“She was happy to have banners featuring my face, and the Justice Party logo, all over Footscray, to get in.

“I call it the Cory Bernardi Syndrome. He was elected as a Liberal and then betrayed his party.”

Statement from Senator Hinch on Catherine Cumming pic.twitter.com/GuXYNlCWqv

— rob harris (@rharris334) December 18, 2018

Ms Cumming will now stand in the parliament as an Independent.

Neil Mitchell had his own clash with Ms Cumming in 2015 during a broadcast on the streets of Yarraville.

Then a councillor, Ms Cumming was defending new parking metres in the village.

The parking metres have not been in operation for several years since.

Click PLAY to watch that row