Former senator Rex Patrick in poll asking voters whether they would support him on a Jacqui Lambie Network ticket

A former independent senator has left open the door for a return to federal parliament after a surprising new poll was put out to test the waters.

Former senator Rex Patrick has left open the possibility of a return to federal parliament, after voters were asked whether they would support him on a Jacqui Lambie Network ticket.

The phone poll, conducted last week, asked voters for their thoughts on a potential political return for Mr Patrick, who served as a Senator for South Australia from November 2017 until the 2022 federal election.

When contacted by The Advertiser on Monday, Mr Patrick said neither he nor Senator Lambie had commissioned the poll.

He said he was aware of who was responsible but declined to reveal their identity.

Mr Patrick said he collaborates with Senator Lambie on various issues, but also has working relationships with the teal independents.

Asked about whether he was planning a return to federal parliament, he said he was not ruling anything in our out.

“I’m quite comfortable with where I am right now,” he said.

“I’m actively engaged in public interest troublemaking.”

He declined to make any further comment about the poll or his political future.

Mr Patrick, 57, filled a casual vacancy in the Senate created after the resignation of Nick Xenophon.

He joined as a member of the Centre Alliance party but in 2020 resigned to sit as an independent.

After his stint in the Senate, Mr Patrick ran for Lord Mayor of Adelaide at the 2022 local government elections but lost out to Jane Lomax-Smith by 52 votes.

He also runs a site called “Transparency Warrior” and has made more than 600 Freedom of Information requests.

Originally published as Former senator Rex Patrick in poll asking voters whether they would support him on a Jacqui Lambie Network ticket