A screenshot from Senator Tyrrell’s announcement that she was leaving the Jacqui Lambie Network and would sit on the Crossbench. Photo: Screenshot.
Tasmanian Senator Tammy Tyrrell announced on Thursday (28 March) that she had resigned from the Jacqui Lambie Network and would sit on the Crossbench, after an apparent falling out with Senator Lambie.
Senator Tyrrell won her senate seat in the 2022 election after working as Senator Lambie’s office manager. But in a brief social media statement, said Senator Lambie had told her she wasn’t happy with the way she was representing the fledgling party.
“Jacqui has indicated that she’s not happy with the way that I’ve been representing the Jacqui Lambie Network, so I’ve made the tough decision to step aside and let the network shine in its own light, and me to shine in my own right,” Senator Tyrrell said.
For now, Senator Tyrell said she would sit on the Crossbenches where she would join former Greens Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe and former Liberal Senator for South Australia David Van, as well as independent ACT Senator David Pocock.
Of the Senate’s 76 seats, the government has 26 senators, the Liberal Party, National Party and Country Liberal Party have a combined 31 Senate seats, the Greens have 11 senators, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has two senators, while Jacqui Lambie and the United Australia Party have one each.
“I want you to hear this from me,” Senator Tyrrell said. “I’ve decided to leave the Jackie Lambie Network and become a senator for Tasmania in my own right as an independent.
“There’s no hard feelings between Jacqui and I,” she added. “I want the best for the network, but I hope that this is the right decision for Jacqui, the network, and the people of Tasmania.”
Better days – Senator Jacqui Lambie (left) and then senate candidate Tammy Tyrrell during the 2022 election campaign. Photo: Tammy Tyrell Facebook.
In a statement on Friday (29 March), Senator Lambie said she wished Senator Tyrrell “all the best of luck”.
“One of my missions has always been to give people who aren’t part of the political class an opportunity to serve the Australian people,” she said. “We will both continue to represent the great state of Tasmania in the Senate.
“This does not change our working relationship or friendship.”
