Jacqui Lambie wants to live Twiggy Forrest’s vision

JACQUI Lambie wants to become the “face” behind Andrew Forrest’s plan to end disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie says she is committed to the party, despite reports of internal tension.

JACQUI  Lambie wants to become the “face” behind Andrew Forrest’s far-reaching plan to end disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, after the billionaire asked the senator to “champion” his reforms.

Mr Forrest met the first-term Palmer United Party senator last Tuesday to request her ­support, just one day before the Tasmanian revealed her Aboriginality in her maiden speech to parliament.

Senator Lambie told The Australian she was “proud and very honoured” to be involved in the Forrest review.

Asked why she thought she had been approached, she quipped: “I have this effect on billionaires; I don’t know how or why.

“But seriously, Twiggy said he was getting good feedback from people on the ground, he did his homework and realised that my family had taken the knocks. He can understand the challenges that ordinary Australians face, ­especially when hope and faith disappear.”

The Fortescue Metals Group chairman told The Australian he approached Senator Lambie specifically about the controversial “healthy welfare” card that is one of the centrepieces of his plan because he knew her youngest son had a drug addiction.

The cashless card, which Mr Forrest wants to roll out nationally, aims to prevent those on welfare from gambling and buying drugs and alcohol.

“I knew that Jacqui had a drug-addicted child and, compared to most Australians, would be able to understand what drug addiction brings not just to the addicted but to all the loved ones,” he said.

“This system must absolutely change. I’ve made those points to Jacqui and I’ve asked Jacqui in particular to come out strongly on the healthy welfare card. I asked Jacqui to do the drug dealers out of the job and not our children.

“I think like every parliamentarian, and particularly parliamentarians with influence, I’d like to see Jacqui champion all the measures of the review.”

Senator Lambie said she would travel across Australia to make sure Mr Forrest’s sweeping proposals were introduced.

The reforms, which include a significant reduction in the number of income support payments and which also ban young people accessing welfare unless they are training or in work, were announced last month and are considered by some as a “launching pad” for the government’s policy direction on indigenous affairs.

“I want see to more first Australians employed, less indigenous babies dying prematurely and no gap in mortality or disadvantage between white and indigenous Australians,” Senator Lambie said.

“I’ll travel Australia all over to make this happen because it will save lives, unite Australians and give people hope. I’m inspired, ­energised and excited to be part of Twiggy’s team and dream. We’re flying on the side of the angels with this program.

“Failure while dealing with indigenous issues in Australia is no longer an option.”

Mr Forrest said he was unaware of Senator Lambie’s Aboriginal heritage at the time of their meeting but hoped it would only add to the PUP’s cause.

“I didn’t understand that but I’m very pleased that she’s stated that and with any luck that adds even more poignancy to our meeting previously,” he said.

Senator Lambie also wants to see indigenous Australians recognised in the Constitution, and said it was “time to push the issue”.

The senator said she would look for common ground when consulting Australians on constitutional recognition and the Forrest review, and plans to visit her PUP colleagues in the Northern Territory before the end of the year to discuss both issues.

“I’ve already meet with Larisa Lee, Francis Kurrupuwu and Alison Anderson once and I want to be in the thick of things in the NT,” she said.

“I want to learn what they have to share.

“I want them to teach me. I want to see with my own eyes the worst affected indigenous areas. I want to smell the poverty, I want to hear the cries, so that experiences can harden my resolve to make Twiggy’s program work.”

Senator Lambie said the referendum should not take place until all Australians were ready to support constitutional recognition.

“This vote shouldn’t divide us; it should unite Australians,” she said.

Her focus on indigenous affairs comes as she admitted to ABC TV’s Australian Story last night that she and PUP leader Clive Palmer had experienced some “teething problems”.

“Clive and I, we’ve had some teething problems along the way,” she said.

“I think Clive Palmer needs to be a lot more honest across the table with me and stop clowning around at times, because that really annoys me.

“I’m a person of action and I want it done and I want to know what’s going on. I don’t back down to Clive Palmer and I shouldn’t have to. Even a billionaire needs to be told every now and then.”

Despite reports of tensions between Senator Lambie and her PUP colleagues, including Mr Palmer, she said she would remain in the party.

“I definitely can see myself staying. I think we’re established,” she said. “Dio (Zhenya Wang) and (Glenn) Lazarus, I have a great deal of respect for, and the same with Clive, it’s just that I’m going to take him on.

“I need to keep Clive Palmer off the Tim Tams so I can keep him alive long enough to keep mentoring me.”