Jacqui Lambie calls for more ‘normal people in parliament’

The Tasmanian senator has given the major parties a grim future outlook, as she called on more everyday Australians to throw their hat in the ring.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has called for more “normal people” in Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has called for more “normal people” in Parliament, saying most Australians are fed up with the major political parties.

Senator Lambie on the weekend called for an end to Australia’s major political parties, saying the rise of the “teal” independents was a welcome end to the old way of politics.

At the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, she said the dominance of the major parties was “choking and killing the country”.

Senator Lambie had a similar message on Monday morning, when she told the Nine Network everyday people shared her views.

Senator Jacqui Lambie, pictured with independent Senator David Pocock, says she wants more ‘normal people’ in parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’m just being open and honest. Most Australians know what I know,” she said.

“I think they (major parties) have had plenty of time to rule the country. I don’t think they’ve done the best job over many years.

“It’s time to let normal people into Parliament.”

Senator Lambie spent the weekend also hitting out at Labor’s unwillingness to dump controversial stage three tax cuts.

Senator Lambie has openly criticised the forging ahead of stage three tax cuts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

She said the federal government’s failure to increase Jobseeker payments to above the poverty line while forging ahead with the tax cuts was a sign of how “broken” the Australian political system was.

She stood firm on Monday morning, saying she would rather “pay it forward” than be on the receiving end of a tax break better suited to lower socio-economic groups.

“Of the 26 million (people) that are here, I can tell you they can’t live on what they’re living on,” she said.

“And people like me and anybody else over that $200,000 threshold … I would rather pay that forward.”

The tax cuts, which will come into effect in 2024, are estimated to cost taxpayers $243bn over 10 years.

Originally published as Jacqui Lambie calls for more ‘normal people in parliament’