Liberals scramble for new power deals after Jacqui Lambie dumps rebel MPs Rebekah Pentland, Miriam Beswick

Australia’s last Liberal government is scrambling to secure new supply and confidence deals after the dramatic implosion of Tasmania’s Jacqui Lambie Network team.

And then there was one. Of the three JLN MPs elected in March, only Andrew Jenner (centre) remains in the party; Braddon MP Miriam Beswick (left) and Bass MP Rebekah Pentland (right) were expelled on Saturday. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmania’s minority Liberal government is scrambling to renegotiate confidence and supply deals with two MPs kicked out of the Jacqui Lambie Network on Saturday.

As exclusively forecast in The Weekend Australian, Senator Lambie and two of her three state MPs – Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick – parted ways late on Saturday over deep differences on strategy.

“Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland have made it clear that they no longer represent the JLN’s values of accountability, transparency and integrity,” the JLN said in a statement.

“As such, they will no longer serve as JLN members of parliament in Tasmania’s House of Assembly.”

Both MPs believed Senator Lambie was frequently interfering in their state affairs.

A last straw was Senator Lambie’s demand the minority government sack Deputy Premier and Treasurer Michael Ferguson, on the eve of the state budget - or risk its supply and confidence deal with the JLN.

The JLN statement defended Senator Lambie’s stance and suggested the two MPs were too close the government, claims they immediately rejected.

“Senator Lambie’s statement regarding Minister Ferguson reflected the time-honoured democratic principle under the Westminster system of ministerial responsibility and accountability,” the statement said.

The party accused its two former MPs of having a “cosy relationship with Minister Ferguson”, including sharing Question Time questions before asking them. “(This) undermines the duty to the people of Tasmania to hold the government to account,” it said.

However, both MPs rejected the accusations, including the sharing of questions, as baseless, telling The Australian it was their commitment to integrity that had put them on a collision course with Senator Lambie.

“The reason we are in this situation of leaving the JLN is that we wouldn’t compromise on our integrity,” Ms Pentland told The Australian. “So it’s rich that she (Senator Lambie) is holding out the three core values of the JLN when she wants us to sacrifice our integrity to play politics.”

Both MPs – who accused Senator Lambie of interference in state issues and destabilising the state government - said they would now sit as independents.

They would both over coming days negotiate new confidence and supply deals with the minority government, which relies on their votes to survive and pass budget bills.

“We will definitely offer confidence and supply but we will be shooting for a different agreement,” Ms Pentland said.

This would likely mean dropping a clause in the JLN agreement which had banned the MPs from backing motions binding on the government.

Instead, it the new agreement would likely be similar to the no-strings offers of supply and confidence provided by independents David O’Byrne and Kristie Johnston.

“We’ll shoot for something very similar,” Ms Pentland said. “But we’ll have those conversations with the government.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie’s state team has shrunk from three to one, creating a headache for the Liberal minority government. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The two would not rule out supporting a no-confidence motion in Mr Ferguson – under fire for presiding over troubled replacement ferry and wharf contracts – but only if a parliamentary committee found wrongdoing.

“While we’re committing to stability, we’ll continue to be fierce critics of the government when necessary,” Ms Pentland said. “We’ve already shown we’re willing to vote against the government when it’s in the best interests of the state.”

Mrs Beswick said while “honoured to be elected under the JLN banner”, the relationship with Senator Lambie had “deteriorated over the past few months”. “It’s now best if we represent our electorates as independents,” she said.

“Jacqui Lambie is a formidable politician and plays a vital role in the federal parliament. We wish her the best.”

Andrew Jenner, the remaining JLN MP, said he would stay in the party, whose stance he supported over this two departing colleagues.

“The difference of opinions and values between Ms Beswick, Ms Pentland and I had meant our relationship had become unworkable,” he said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff, expected to hammer out new agreements with the two ex-JLN members before parliament resumes on September 10, said he would “work with all MPs to ensure stability and certainty.”

The government has only 14 MPs in the 35-seat Assembly. It faces a possible no confident motion in Mr Ferguson, shortly after or potentially even before the September 12 state budget.

Labor opposition leader Dean Winter suggested the government did not deserve to secure the confidence of the Assembly. “How could anyone have confidence in the Liberals when they are failing on every measure?” Mr Winter said.

“The Liberals have broken the budget, lurched from crisis to crisis and their deputy premier’s career is effectively on trial.

“Tasmanians understand the risks of minority government. They have watched 5,000 jobs lost since the government first went into minority.”

The loss of the two state MPs, on top of the resignation in March of former JLN senator Tammy Tyrrell, comes as Senator Lambie attempts to have new JLN senators elected in other states.