Former senator Rex Patrick to join Jacqui Lambie Network
A former independent senator will make another tilt at federal parliament, announcing he will run for a South Australian seat as a member of the Jacqui Lambie Network.
SA News
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Former senator Rex Patrick will make another tilt at federal parliament, announcing he will run for a South Australian seat as a member of the Jacqui Lambie Network.
Mr Patrick today announced he would run as a senate candidate in next year’s election, having previously served in parliament from 2017 to 2022.
Mr Patrick and Senator Lambie, both from defence backgrounds, said they shared similar values and the alliance was not unusual having worked together for a long time.
“Look at what Jacqui did in the Senate this week getting access to the IGDAF report by pressing for transparency – that’s in my DNA,” Mr Patrick said.
“Transparency, accountability and integrity are core values we share.”
He said Canberra was “broken” and stronger action was needed to address cost of living, multinational tax avoidance, defence spends and to value-add to export markets.
“There are very simple things that could be done, it just takes bravery and Jacqui and I can do that standing together,” Mr Patrick said.
“Housing prices need to reduce, we need to adopt what they’ve done in New Zealand and Canada and stop foreigners buying residential properties.
“It robs opportunities for young Australians to get into housing.
“I’m a big proponent of defence, but we have a defence department that have spent $4bn on not buying a submarine. Money is being poured down the drain.”
Senator Lambie told The Advertiser she would do her part to see Mr Patrick re-elected to parliament because “the nation needs him”.
“We need Rex back and if that means I have to help him get there I will, because Australia needs him. If I can get help him get a few more votes, than I’m going to do that,” she said.
In July, a phone poll asked voters for their thoughts on a potential political return for Mr Patrick and whether they would support him on a Jacqui Lambie Network ticket.
Mr Patrick and Senator Lambie both denied commissioning the poll.
The results from 2000 voters showed Mr Patrick would receive a first preference percentage of 15.7 per cent, if part of the Jacqui Lambie Network.
“I’m always sceptical about polls but from more than 2000 samples, it shows 15 per cent which is a quota and it shows I’m a serious candidate,” he said.
Mr Patrick, who has worked to advocate for government transparency since leaving parliament, narrowly missed being elected as Adelaide Lord Mayor in November 2022.
The former navy officer first joined federal parliament as a member of the Centre Alliance Party, filling a casual vacancy created after the resignation of Nick Xenophon.
He resigned from the party in 2020 to sit as an independent and failed to be re-elected in the May 2022 election.
Despite losing his seat, Mr Patrick “haunted the halls of Parliament House” and had Senator Lambie ask the Labor government questions on defence, health and infrastructure.
Originally published as Former senator Rex Patrick to join Jacqui Lambie Network
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