Less than a month after the Victorian election and a day before MPs are sworn in, Senator Derryn Hinch's Justice Party has disendorsed one of its new three members.
Senator Hinch on Tuesday said Catherine Cumming was disendorsed after a leadership vote didn't go her way, but the upper house MP-elect has told AAP she had issues with preference-whisperer Glenn Druery's involvement with the party.
Ms Cumming will now be sworn in on Wednesday as an independent.
"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'," Senator Hinch said 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."
He said he was disappointed and apologised to voters who elected her based on the Justice Party name and policies.
He said no party or its elected MPs could, and should not, be bullied, or subjected to blackmail.
"She had also shown an inordinate interest in the $800,000 (over four years) of taxpayers' money she would be entitled to as an independent," Senator Hinch said.
But Ms Cumming said Senator Hinch's statement "just goes shows who has (been) throwing their toys out of the pram."
She said she could not work with Mr Druery, who also separately works with Senator Hinch, and she was not supported by the party on preferences.
"I was sold out by my party to the Shooters (Fishers and Farmers Party) and that I obviously won (my seat) due to my strong primary personal vote and organic preferences," Ms Cumming told AAP.
"I explained to them my unhappiness and not feeling supported by the party due to the Glenn Druery preferencing debacle."
Mr Druery's private consulting business for preference deals among minor parties came under attack from Reason Party leader Fiona Patten, who referred her concerns to the Victorian Electoral Commission and police.
Ms Cumming's departure means there are now only two Justice Party candidates in Victoria's legislative council.
Stuart Grimley has been elected state party leader.
Parliament will return for a one day sitting on Wednesday.
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