Tasmanian MPs signal party’s all but over for Jacqui Lambie Network
It was a triumph of grassroots, stick-it-to-the-man politics, but the Jacqui Lambie Network faces the loss of its Tasmanian flock over the senator’s perceived bomb-throwing interference.
The Jacqui Lambie Network is imploding, with two state MPs poised to leave the fledgling party amid deep frustration at its founder’s interference and threats against Tasmania’s minority government. Relations between Senator Lambie and her state MPs have reached rock bottom, with two of the three – Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland – no longer having a working relationship with their former mentor.
The Weekend Australian understands the two MPs are resigned to having to break with the JLN, potentially before parliament resumes on September 10, leaving them as independents.
A final straw has been Senator Lambie’s demands in recent weeks for the removal of Deputy Premier and Treasurer Michael Ferguson, weeks before a crucial state budget. It is understood Senator Lambie’s demand for Mr Ferguson’s resignation, over bungled Bass Strait ferry and wharf contracts, was issued to the media without prior consultation with state MPs.
Emails obtained by The Weekend Australian suggest the first her state MPs knew of Senator Lambie’s demand was a press release forwarded 20 minutes after journalists received it.
Senator Lambie went further this week, warning the JLN’s deal offering the Liberals confidence and supply would only “stand” if Premier Jeremy Rockliff sacked Mr Ferguson. The attempt by a senator to unseat a state minister stunned JLN MPs, only one of whom – Andrew Jenner – has publicly offered any support for Senator Lambie’s stance.
There is deep concern Senator Lambie appears willing to destabilise or even tear down the state government she agreed to prop up just four months ago.
Some are concerned Senator Lambie is focused on grabbing headlines to boost her profile and aid her re-election, rather than deliver on the promise of stable government. The Weekend Australian has confirmed state JLN MPs did not negotiate the April 10 agreement to prop up the Rockliff government, with negotiations handled by Senator Lambie and her senior staff.
It is understood at least two of her MPs were reluctant to sign the deal, believing – as do many commentators – that it was too restrictive on their freedom to vote against the government. Their preference would have been to offer confidence and supply only, without guaranteeing to support the Liberals on all binding motions. However, despite being regularly attacked by Labor for being “in coalition” with the Liberals, the three JLN MPs have stuck by the deal and – until this week – provided stability.
All three want to make the minority government work; not to blow it up, and at least two are understood to view Senator Lambie’s unilateral interventions as untenable.
Mr Jenner, who is understood to remain close to Senator Lambie, has made efforts to keep the trio under the JLN banner, but the relationship between his two colleagues and the senator appears irretrievable.
Ms Pentland and Ms Beswick would not comment on their future with the JLN but both have confirmed they were not consulted prior to Senator Lambie announcing her Ferguson stance. Both have also said they would not, at this stage, support a no-confidence motion to remove Mr Ferguson. Mr Jenner has said he would support such a motion, if Mr Ferguson was “found culpable” after further public account committee hearings into the ferries fiasco.
Becoming independents would require Ms Beswick and Ms Pentland to negotiate new confidence and supply deals with Mr Rockliff. While it is expected they would do so, they are likely to demand greater freedom to vote against the government.
Even with the support of two of the JLN MPs, Mr Ferguson’s political survival is not assured. It is understood Labor will move a no-confidence vote in him if it believes it can gain the 18 votes required to pass it.
The Greens appear certain to support it. With Mr Jenner, that would mean at least 16 votes against Mr Ferguson, leaving his fate hanging on independents David O’Byrne, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland.
All three independents told The Weekend Australian they were keeping their options open, pending further evidence before the PAC, although Mr Garland said he would be “very reluctant” to support a no-confidence motion. Mr Ferguson has been meeting the independents.
The PAC will on September 9 hear evidence from state-owned ferry company TT-Line, whose chairman, Michael Grainger, was last week asked by Mr Ferguson to resign. Mr Grainger, who resigned, will give evidence later and is expected to contradict Mr Ferguson’s claims the government “wasn’t told” about key developments. This potentially leaves the Treasurer fighting for his job days before, or soon after, a difficult state budget, featuring net debt of $3.5bn and a $1.5bn deficit.
Senator Lambie, whose former fellow JLN senator Tammy Tyrrell quit the party in March over internal party differences, declined to comment.
Mr Rockliff told The Weekend Australian he had confidence in Mr Ferguson.
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