Editorial: Lambie would be missed

EDITORIAL: SINCE bursting on to the scene as part of the Clive Palmer juggernaut, Jacqui Lambie has always made it clear she has never had any intention of being a bit player on the national political stage.

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie will resign if she is found to have dual Australian-British nationality. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

SINCE bursting on to the scene as part of the Clive Palmer juggernaut at the 2013 federal election, Jacqui Lambie has always made it clear she has never had any intention of being a bit player on the national political stage.

And despite more than her share of gaffes, Senator Lambie has proven to be perhaps the most vocal voice for Tasmania in federal politics – a role aided by the power she has wielded as one of the crossbench senators, but fuelled by her own energetic nature.

Senator Lambie’s personal background means she has been somewhat uniquely positioned to understand the struggles of our state’s battlers, and so has proven to be a strong advocate for the North-West.

It’s a shame, then, that her future is in doubt because she likely unwittingly holds dual citizenship through her Scottish-born father. Senator Lambie was telling colleagues yesterday she would resign immediately if she today — as expected — receives advice from the UK Home Office that she is a citizen, and is therefore ineligible to sit in Federal Parliament. In typical style, she has promised that Tasmanians will be the first to know once she gets the news.

MORE: LAMBIE SET TO LEARN HER CITIZENSHIP FATE

The Mercury has repeatedly made the point that our system of government is a representative democracy, and so — it follows — should be representative of the community.

Senator Lambie was raised in public housing in Devonport. She left school at year 11 to join the army, but had to postpone that move after falling pregnant. She later did enlist, and over 10 years rose to the rank of corporal. Her personal story, then, reflects the experiences of many in our community.

And for all her quirks, one of Senator Lambie’s most endearing characteristics is that she is not a typical cookie-cutter politician. That is something that should be celebrated – even if it means she is often a bit rough around the edges. That’s kind of the point. But don’t underestimate her. The other remarkable thing about Senator Lambie is what a politically astute operator she has proven to be during her time in Parliament.

She was quick to jump from the sinking ship that was the Palmer United Party. And she has parlayed those five minutes of fame into establishing her own party, the modestly named Jacqui Lambie Network — under whose banner she last year won back the Senate seat she might have to give up today.

Senator Lambie was no political novice when elected to Parliament, having worked in senator Nick Sherry’s office for several years. But she has kept it real. And along the way she has advocated hard for the people she was elected to represent.

When you strip away those very public gaffes — most of which were the result of her telling it like it is, a trait her supporters actually find endearing — she has done a good job for Tasmania.

If Senator Lambie somehow manages to escape the Section 44 trap that has already claimed seven federal MPs, Tasmanians can rest assured she will continue to fight for their interests in her unique style.

If not, it looks likely Devonport mayor Steve Martin — number 2 on the Jacqui Lambie Network Senate ticket last year — will take Senator Lambie’s Senate seat. Mr Martin would do well to learn from her example and use his time there to stand up strongly, proudly and unashamedly for Tasmanians.