Jacqui Lambie is the government’s biggest problem right now

FORGET Pauline Hanson, another divisive senator is back shaking up the parliament and causing chaos on the crossbench.

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie is not happy with changes the government is trying to push through the Senate. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

FORGET Pauline Hanson. The election of the divisive senator promised to shake things up in parliament — but another outspoken politician looks to become the government’s biggest headache.

Declaring the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act “dead in the water”, and pledging to block a slew of key bills the Coalition is trying to push through the Senate, Jacqui Lambie is one of the government’s biggest roadblocks.

The Tasmanian Senator said she would vote against the changes in wording to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday announced a bill to replace the words “offend, insult and humiliate” with “harass and intimidate” in controversial law making it harder to successfully make claims.

Senator Lambie said the proposed change was a “distraction” and a “waste of time”, and that there was no problem with the current wording of section 18C “unless you have a crap lawyer”.

She’s back: Jacqui Lambie has been quiet lately, but she’s not holding back on her opposition to changes to 18C. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

“There isn’t one person in Tasmania who has come to speak to me about 18C,” she said in an interview on ABC radio.

“I just think it’s a waste of time speaking about this. There’s so much bigger things on the table ... it’s just a distraction.

“I won’t be changing my mind. I’m voting against them. It is dead in the water.”

The government needs the support of nine out of 11 crossbench votes to get the bill over the line. Nick Xenophon Team and Greens Senators have also said they would vote against the changes.

Senator Lambie also said she would vote against the government’s childcare and welfare savings package, which it has split in a bid to get a pre-budget win.

Malcolm Turnbull and Attorney-General George Brandis will have a tough time convincing crossbenchers. Picture: Kym Smith

The government had originally bundled one bill together that included a reduction to family tax benefits (along with a number of other cuts), with savings to be redirected into childcare subsidies and disability funding.

They’ve now agreed to divide the draft laws, but it’s yet to be seen if the changes will sway the votes of the cross bench.

Senator Lambie said she would also oppose tax cuts to big businesses that the government campaigned on in last year’s federal election.

“I’m not into that, at all,” she said. “It’s the SMEs (small to medium businesses) that are paying the price out there now and we need to be throwing everything we possibly can at them. Give them a bigger tax cut.”