One Nation's Rod Culleton cops $205k bill

A judgement ordering One Nation Senator-elect Rod Culleton and his wife to pay former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester more than $200,000 in damages has been upheld.

The matter relates to a December 2009 deal the Culletons inked with Mr Lester's Balwyn Nominees for land near Williams in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region so the couple could expand their oat farming operation.

The Culletons agreed to buy most of the property, named Rathgar, for $13.2 million and lease the remainder for one year for $500,000 excluding GST.

But when the first rent instalment was due less than three months later, Mr Culleton told Mr Lester he had cashflow problems and the deal was terminated within a fortnight.

Balwyn sought damages of $205,536 for lost rent - a figure that the Culletons did not dispute.

However they argued that since the lease was part of the purchase agreement, "carving out" the rent bill was not "conceptually correct".

The Culletons appealed unsuccessfully last year and earlier this year, and third appeal proceedings were dismissed in the WA Court of Appeal on Thursday.

The court said none of the grounds had a reasonable chance of success and the reasons for the judgement would be published at a later date.

According to the judgement in September last year, Mr Culleton became bankrupt after filing the notice of appeal.

Under the constitution, anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent is incapable of being chosen or sitting as a senator.

That's also the case for anyone subject to be sentenced for any offence punishable by one year in prison or longer.

Mr Culleton was due to face trial on a stealing charge in the Perth Magistrates Court this week but was instead being inducted to federal parliament after securing an adjournment.

All senators will be sworn in when the 45th parliament opens on August 30.