Senator Lucy Gichuhi joins Liberal Party, boosting government majority

MALCOLM Turnbull’s odds of passing major reforms have received a major boost with former Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi joining the Liberal Party.

Senator Lucy Gichuhi shares fundamental Liberal values, the Prime Minister said.

MALCOLM Turnbull’s odds of passing major reforms have received a major boost with former Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi joining the Liberal Party in a shock move days before the start of Parliament on Monday.

The South Australian was elected only last year after former Family First leader Bob Day was found by the High Court to be ineligible to sit in the Senate, but quit the party when it merged with the Australian Conservatives.

The Prime Minister said she shared “fundamentally Liberal values”.

Despite Senator Gichuhi’s move, the Coalition will still need the support of, among other groups, One Nation.

Her defection to the Liberal Party boosts its majority in the Senate, where a number of reforms — including company tax cuts — have failed.

But Senator Gichuhi is already a reliable supporter of Coalition policies, voting in favour of several key changes last year, including the Gonski 2.0 education funding reforms.

“She will bring to the Liberal Party an important perspective drawn from her remarkable personal journey,” Mr Turnbull said.

LUCY GICHUHI: FROM BAREFOOT KID ON AFRICAN FARM TO AUSTRALIAN SENATE

“Her passion for aged care and seniors’ issues, for strengthening Australia’s relationship with Kenya and Africa more broadly and for a proudly multicultural Australia will be a great asset to our team.”

Senator Gichuhi joined the Liberal Party at a meeting in Adelaide earlier this evening, the latest in a string of upheavals in the Senate since the last election.

Seven former senators have lost their seats due to the dual citizenship scandal, while Labor’s Katy Gallagher awaits a decision about her eligibility from the High Court.

Former Labor senator Sam Dastyari is set to be replaced by Kristina Keneally, Nick Xenophon and One Nation’s Rod Culleton have already exited the Senate, while Cory Bernardi defected from the Liberals last year to form the Australian Conservatives.

Despite Senator Gichuhi’s move, the Coalition will still need the support of One Nation and the Nick Xenophon Team or the Greens in order to pass legislation through the Senate.