Jacqui Lambie to meet PM over defence pay

Jacqui Lambie says she will meet Tony Abbott to discuss defence force pay in the coming days.

Newly independent senator Jacqui Lambie

(AAP)

Newly independent senator Jacqui Lambie will take her anger over a defence force pay deal directly to the prime minister.

Senator Lambie, who quit the Palmer United Party on Monday after a falling out with leader Clive Palmer, says she will meet Tony Abbott in Canberra in the next couple of days.

The outspoken senator has vowed to vote against all government legislation until the coalition boosts a below-inflation pay deal for defence personnel.

Senator Lambie will press the prime minister to intervene.

"I'm hoping he's come to his common sense and he's going to show respect to those men and women and turn that decision around," she told reporters in Canberra.

Senator Lambie wants the issue resolved before Christmas.

"This is really exceptional circumstances because we're talking about our defence forces here.

"They are a unique group of people and they deserve this, they've earned this."

But government frontbencher Steve Ciobo says it's too late to change the pay offer.

"It's a done deal," he told Sky News.


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Published 25 November 2014 8:50am
Updated 25 November 2014 11:56am


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