Lambie confirms search for new Senate voting bloc

Rogue Palmer United Party Senator, Jacqui Lambie, has confirmed she is actively pursuing taking part in a new Senate voting bloc, outside her party.

Jacqui Lambie confirms search for new voting bloc

Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie with Clive Palmer at their swearing in of Parliament in July.

The Tasmanian Senator has been vocally disgruntled with her party Leader, Clive Palmer, and PUP's lack of support for her uncompromising push to improve the pay of ADF personnel.

Mr Palmer last week called Senator Lambie a "drama queen" and urged her to challenge for the party's leadership if she was unhappy.

In a statement with implications for the balance of power in the Senate, Jacqui Lambie has confirm talks will take place in just over a week. "I'm looking forward to next week's Senate sitting. My diary's fast filling with meetings between myself and many different members and Senators."

Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm and Family First Senator Bob Day are among the people lining up to speak to the Tasmanian, who has outlined her sticking points for a new Senate voting bloc.

"In those meetings I'll always put Tasmania's best interests first," said the Senator.

"In particular I'm looking for solutions to the ADF pay and entitlements crisis - as well as a way to exempt all Tasmanian business and residents from having to pay ten (sic) of millions of dollars in unfair mainland (Renewable Energy Target ) RET penalties."

Negotiations between the Government and Labor over the future of the RET broke down last week, with the Opposition accusing the Government of trying to destroy the renewable energy industry by watering down the target.

The Abbott Government is trying to redefine the current 20 per cent RET to about 27,000 gigawatt hours of renewable energy, arguing overall household energy consumption has fallen in Australia.

RET negotiations could continue with the Palmer United Party, but the PUP leader Clive Palmer says he stands by the current target which equates to 41,000 gigawatt hours of alternative energy.

Senator Lambie claims the Renewable Energy Target places 10,000 direct and indirect Tasmanian jobs in jeopardy. "Our 6 biggest employers may have to close down if these mainland RET costs are not abolished immediately."

"My job as a Senator in the federal parliament .. will be to deliver the cheapest power in the world to our Tasmanian manufactures (sic)."

"I'll talk to and co-operate with any member of a political party who can help me achieve that goal."

Ructions with the Palmer United Party came to a head last Wednesday when Senator Lambie criticised her PUP colleagues on ABC 730.

Later that night, her chief of staff Rob Messenger was expelled from the part for what Clive Palmer calls his "disruptive influence" and for making "false and misleading statements" about PUP Senators. 

Mr Messenger remains on Jacqui Lambie's staff, but the PUP rupture is looking increasingly likely to change the power balance in the Senate.

PUP Leader, Clive Palmer is due to speak at his party's Victorian state election campaign launch this afternoon.


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Published 16 November 2014 11:18am
Updated 16 November 2014 8:06pm


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