Former kingmakers plan how to take on Labor

David Pocock, Lidia Thorpe and Jacqui Lambie will capitalise on ‘public perception’ of political issues and their significant personal profiles to continue exerting influence in parliament.

Lidia Thorpe, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie.

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Former kingmakers David Pocock,Lidia Thorpe and Jacqui Lambie will capitalise on “public perception” of political issues and their significant personal profiles to continue exerting influence in parliament, despite no longer possessing deciding votes in the Senate after Labor’s thumping election win.

The crossbenchers, who were critical for Labor to pass legislation in the last term of parliament, bemoaned the government’s massive majority and raised concern over the impact the new senate makeup would have on democracy.

“It was very hard for the … Liberals with Peter Dutton’s policy offering to really cut through and engage people, hopefully that won’t be the same in the in the future,” Senator Pocock, former Wallabies’ captain and Canberra personality, said.

“Hopefully … (it can) be a genuine contest. That’s what’s good for our good for our democracy, is to have a real contest of ideas.

“I guess coming from a sports background, you want to be playing the best. That’s when you get the best out of out of everyone.”

Senator Thorpe said a strong, independent crossbench “served the best interest” of Australians, and warned the current makeup of the upper house was dangerous.

“When power goes unchecked, it protects itself, not the public,” she said.

“I have written to the PM about my priorities which have not changed, and will not change. It is the end of the ongoing state-sanctioned violence inflicted through deaths in custody, forced child removals and the destruction of sacred sites; acts that constitute genocide.”

Senator Lidia Thorpe has warned that the current makeup of the upper house is dangerous. Picture: Martin Ollman

Despite the shared frustration between the three Senators, who were last term able to leverage their position as the deciding votes when Labor wanted to pass legislation without the Coalition’s support, all of them vowed to use every avenue available to them to push the government on issues important to their constituents.

Senator Lambie, who boasts nearly half a million followers on Facebook, said as much as obtaining a balance of power was “nice to have”, what really mattered was public opinion.

“As much as we can say ‘hey, we had the balance of power, which we don’t anymore’, it’s actually about public perception,” she said.

Senator Jacqui Lambie boasts nearly half a million followers on Facebook. Picture: Simon Sturzaker

“If you can go and do 10 or 15 radio runs today, and do that, say, for a week or two and keep that pressure on the government, that’s actually where you see the change.”

The firebrand Tasmanian Senator said that, now that she didn’t need to scrutinise as many bills thanks to no longer holding balance of power, she would have more time to prosecute campaigns against the government.

“I’m going to cause havoc, it’s never good to keep a Lambie on the sidelines, they get bored. You’ve got to keep them busy or they’ll become a pain in the arse,” she said.

Senator Lambie vowed to continue pressuring the government over the treatment of veterans and fighting to hold the Australian Defence Force to account for any physical or mental “abuse” of personnel.

Senator David Pocock, former Wallabies’ captain and Canberra personality. Picture: Martin Ollman

In exchange for their coveted votes last term, the independents were able to make significant gains, including Senator Pocock’s demand for Labor to set up of the economic inclusion task-force, which reported to government as recently as March on the need to increase welfare payments.

Senator Pocock said, rather than taking a backward step now that he didn’t hold a deciding vote, he was “viewing this as an opportunity to work on campaigns” to take to government.

“We need more investment in social and affordable housing … and I’ll be pushing for reform to our lobbying laws,” he said.

“Also things like data harvesting the major parties do around postal voting, that’s got to be looked at.”

The Coalition’s Senate leader Michaelia Cash also raised concern with the new makeup of the Senate, warning the ability for Labor and the Greens to strike a deal on legislation with no other support required would allow for radical bills to be passed.

“The danger is this government will now be held hostage by the Greens’ agenda. With the large majority the government holds in the lower house the Senate will be vital to the transparency of the democratic process,” she said.

“It will be a test of the Albanese’s government’s commitment to transparency how they go about dealing with legislation during this parliament.

“They should give the Senate adequate time to scrutinise, debate and amend legislation.”