Mal Colston

Mal Colston was a controversial Australian politician who served as a senator for the Labor Party before defecting to become an independent. His tenure was marked by scandal, particularly regarding misuse of travel expenses, which eventually led to criminal charges. Colston's defection in 1996, when he accepted an offer from Prime Minister John Howard to become deputy president of the Senate, provoked outrage within the Labor Party. Known for his tumultuous political career, he was often branded as a 'rat' by former colleagues. Colston's legacy is one of infamy, remembered for his opportunistic shift in party allegiance and subsequent legal troubles before retiring from politics in 1999.