Lambie makes medivac laws ultimatum
Senator Jacqui Lambie has delivered an ultimatum to the government for her support in repealing the medivac laws.
Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed she has delivered an ultimatum to the Morrison government in order to get her support to repeal the controversial medivac laws, but won’t say what it is.
The independent Tasmanian senator said the medivac laws were not undermining the Operation Sovereign Borders policy but she acknowledged concerns with the way the legislation was working.
“In recognition, I have proposed to the government the only condition on which I will support the repeal of the medivac legislation. If that condition is met, I will vote in favour,” she said.
“If that condition is not met, I will oppose the repeal. The condition I have put … is a sensible and reasonable proposition that I have arrived at through extensive consultation … it is within the capacity of the government to accept it.”
One Nation and South Australian independent senator Cory Bernardi support repealing the medivac laws, passed by Labor, the Greens and some crossbenchers in February, but Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton must win over Senator Lambie to scrap them. A vote is unlikely until next week at the earliest.
ROSIE LEWIS