‘Marriage of convenience’: Jacqui Lambie lashes Steve Martin’s move to Nationals

Jacqui Lambie confirmed she will run against Steve Martin, who today joined the Nationals, at the next federal election.

Jacqui Lambie has attacked Senator Steve Martin for joining the Nationals, calling it a “marriage of convenience” for “two increasingly desperate parties”.

Ms Lambie, who kicked Senator Martin out of her party because he would not make way for her return to the Senate, called her former team member the “country’s loneliest Senator”.

“It looks like a marriage of convenience for two increasingly desperate parties — the drifting Nationals in the post-Barnaby era and the country’s loneliest Senator, Steve Martin,” Ms Lambie said in a statement.

Senator Steve Martin. Picture: Kym Smith

“The Nationals have a track record of promising, setting up and then backing out. In 2013 they pushed hard for a branch in Tasmania, with registration at state level but they cut the Tasmanian members loose, abandoned them and even threatened legal action to shut them down.

“What is going to be different this time? Nothing. This is a demonstration of the irreversible breakdown that is occurring within the Coalition government.

“I can only wish the new National Party a better start in Tasmania than on the last three attempts and I can only hope that the people of Tasmania get the level of representation that they deserve.”

Ms Lambie also confirmed she would be running against Mr Martin for the Senate at the next election.

To answer the many wonderful messages, I will be running to return the Senate seat to the people of Tasmania who want a truly independent voice in Canberra. Trust me, I am biting at the bit, looking forward to taking the Nats out! 🙏 #auspol #politas

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) May 28, 2018

“To answer the many wonderful messages, I will be running to return the Senate seat to the people of Tasmania who want a truly independent voice in Canberra,” she tweeted.

“Trust me, I am biting at the bit, looking forward to taking the Nats out!”

Earlier, Senator Martin confirmed he will become the first Tasmanian Nationals representative in federal Parliament in more than 90 years after agreeing to join the smaller Coalition party.

Senator Martin, who replaced Ms Lambie in the Senate in February, will bolster the government’s upper house numbers to 31 out of 76 senators.

“I am really proud to be the first Nationals senator for Tasmania,” Senator Martin said.

“Having been a community volunteer and a small business person, one of the core reasons I entered federal politics was to strengthen Tasmanian communities and businesses.

“In joining the Nationals and relaunching the party in Tasmania today, it certainly is a big step forward in achieving that vision.

“What drew me towards the Nationals is their focus on key issues such as natural resources, teamwork and, of course, people.”

Malcolm Turnbull welcomed Senator Martin to the government, saying he would be a “strong addition”.

“Our two parties share a long and enduring partnership, and this decision will reinforce Tasmania’s voice in the government,” the Prime Minister said.

“Together we will keep on fighting for Tasmanians, delivering lower taxes for families and businesses, better-funded hospitals and schools, and creating jobs as we implement our plan for a stronger economy.”

.@The_Nationals leader @M_McCormackMP: We're delighted that senator Steve Martin is joining us. I liken him to the Tasmanian Tiger, because he'll be an absolute tiger for regional development, and the interests of Tasmanians.

MORE: https://t.co/voFXuzmefi #newsday pic.twitter.com/oC7lOaSSlx

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 28, 2018

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Senator Martin would be the first Nationals representative in Canberra since 1927, and the party’s first ever senator.

“A Tasmanian tiger was last seen in 1936, so I sort of liken Steve a bit to the Tasmanian tiger in as much as he is going to be an absolute tiger for regional development, an absolute tiger in there fighting for the interests of Tasmanians,” Mr McCormack said.

“It’s an important and historic announcement and I know that Steve has done a fantastic job as a small business person in his news agency, as a restaurateur, but also as the mayor of Devonport.

“In seven or eight years of being the mayor of Devonport, certainly this place saw the benefits of his advocacy and that’s what the National Party do, they are a group of local champions coming together.”

Senator Martin was kicked out of Senator Lambie’s party, the Jackie Lambie Network, because he would not step aside to let her make a parliamentary comeback.

He becomes the second independent senator the Turnbull government has recruited, after South Australian Lucy Gichuhi.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese criticised the move. “Call me old-fashioned; I think that voters deserve more respect than members of parliament just deciding to change their political allegiances without reference back to those voters,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Fremantle.

Steve Martin and Jacqui Lambie.