Ousted Jacqui Lambie Network MPs Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick open up on dismissal

Two Lambie-turned-Independent MPs say they found out they’d been cut from the party through a media release. Latest on the party spill.

Two former Jacqui Lambie Network MPs have confirmed they will sign a new agreement with the Liberal government after being cast out by Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Newly independent MPs Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland restated their willingness to keep the Liberals in office as Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson made the shock announcement to resign from his portfolio.

Former JLN members Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick, who represent Bass and Braddon, respectively, were removed from the minor party on Saturday. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Only five months after she and Mrs Pentland were elected under the JLN banner, Mrs Beswick said the way they had been treated was “very disappointing”.

“Our relationship with Jacqui had been getting difficult, and it was not great,” she said.

Mrs Pentland said the duo were not told directly that they would be outed, instead discovering they were removed from the party through a media release.

“It’s not the most professional way to be told that you have been given the door,” she said.

“But I kind of understand that maybe Jackie got to a point where she had just had enough and wanted us to leave.

“I think Jacqui’s done what she saw was fit. But if that’s the way she saw it, then that relationship was unworkable it was irretrievable when we needed to make that step to probably part ways.”

Mrs Beswick dismissed claims by the JLN that the duo no longer stood for accountability, transparency, and integrity.

“We stood for the values of the Jacqui Lambie Network. That has not changed,” Mrs Beswick said.

“It’s very important that I represent my electorate, listen to the people, and stand up for what is needed in our community.

“It’s obviously been a bit of a roller coaster in the last week or so. We’re now free to take things forward and represent our electorates the way we would like to. We’ll get through this. It’s a brand new day.”

The pair said they were looking to the future, with Mrs Pentland reiterating her promise to hold the Tasmanian Government to account.

“The last week has been immensely draining and very emotional,” she said.

“But we’re still here to represent those voters, so our values haven’t changed.

“Miriam and I work well together. We’re both very passionate about the Tasmanian people.”

‘Unworkable’: Exiled Lambie MPs’ candid views on dismissal

August 26 10:20am: The two state MPs who were booted from the Jacqui Lambie Network have opened up about the unravelling of their relationship with the firebrand senator, accusing their former leader of dismissing them at the first sign of political disagreement.

Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick, who represent Bass and Braddon, respectively, were removed from the minor party, led by Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, on Saturday after they did not echo her public calls for Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson to resign over issues with the delivery of the replacement Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

Senator Lambie accused Mrs Pentland and Mrs Beswick of having a “cosy” relationship with Mr Ferguson and said they no longer shared the values of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN).

Speaking on ABC Hobart on Monday, the exiled JLN MPs said the way they had been treated was “very disappointing”.

Senator Jacqui Lambie and former Jacqui Lambie Network MPs, Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick, earlier this month.

Mrs Pentland said she was “proud” to have run as a JLN candidate at the state election but her and Mrs Beswick’s relationship with Senator Lambie had become “unworkable”.

She said the JLN members were led to believe that they weren’t required to always toe the party line.

“That’s clearly not true,” Mrs Pentland said.

“The first time we decided not to support Jacqui politically, she pushed us out.”

Andrew Jenner, Lyons member for the Jacqui Lambie Network, with Miriam Beswick, now former member for the Jacqui Lambie Network, and Rebekah Pentland, now former member for the Jacqui Lambie Network. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The Bass MP said it had been a “very hard week emotionally and mentally” and rejected the assertion that she and Mrs Beswick no longer stood for accountability, transparency, and integrity, as Senator Lambie claimed.

“We want to keep the government to account so we can ensure there are good outcomes for the people of Tasmania,” Mrs Pentland said.

She firmly denied that she and Mrs Beswick had an overly friendly relationship with the Liberals.

Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner with then party colleagues Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland in happier times. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Beswick said the reason they hadn’t criticised Mr Ferguson was because they were waiting for the Public Accounts Committee to complete an inquiry into the delivery of the new Spirits and “we’re not jumping the gun before … that decision is made.”.

A report in the Australian newspaper on Saturday suggested Mrs Pentland and Mrs Beswick were considering their future in the JLN, which Mrs Beswick said led to a “frank conversation” with Senator Lambie.

She said their decision as to whether they would remain in the party was “taken from our hands”.

The pair, who will now sit as independents, are negotiating a new confidence and supply agreement with Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s minority government. It comes after the JLN signed a deal with the Liberals in the wake of the election.

Mrs Beswick said she and Mrs Pentland would “continue to work [together] very, very closely”.

Originally published as Ousted Jacqui Lambie Network MPs Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick open up on dismissal