Jacqui Lambie says she will no longer run candidates in Tasmanian politics

After sacking two of her three Tasmanian state MPs, Senator Jacqui Lambie has made a surprising call on the future of her party.

CANBERRA, Australia – NewsWire Photos – August 15, 2024: Senator Jacqui Lambie. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Jacqui Lambie says she will never again run candidates in Tasmanian politics just six months after securing three seats in parliament and shaping it from the outside as an unlikely kingmaker.

Her shock call comes after she effectively sacked two of her three Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) state MPs, Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick, because they refused to echo her public calls for Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson to resign the portfolio over the debacle surrounding the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

Speaking to the Mercury, Senator Lambie said she would not run state candidates again in the future.

CANBERRA, Australia – NewsWire Photos – August 20, 2024: Senator Jacqui Lambie. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I won’t be standing anyone again but if [Lyons JLN MP] Andrew [Jenner] wants to run again I owe him that,” she said.

“I promised (former JLN federal candidates) Troy Pfitzner and Chris Hannan that they could run for state so that is why we ran.

“They’re not feeling that great at the moment either, watching everything fall apart and going, ‘Holy s—,’ because we still speak to each other all the time.”

Andrew Jenner, the remaining state member of the Jacqui Lambie Network. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

She also said she had apologised to Premier Jeremy Rockliff for the “instability” the split in the JLN had created for the parliament, but reiterated her call for Mr Ferguson to resign as Treasurer after a damning report into the state’s finances was released.

“I am sorry to put Jeremy in that situation. I wanted to leave our relationship intact. I’ve known Jeremy for a very, very long time. I just really feel awful,” she said.

“I do think he’s doing a great job, to be honest with you.”

The maverick senator will still run candidates federally, including in NSW, Queensland, and South Australia.

Newly independent MPs Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

The JLN signed a confidence and supply agreement with the Rockliff minority government following the March state election but after Mrs Pentland and Mrs Beswick were removed from the party, the pair negotiated a new deal with the Premier as independents.

It is also expected that Mr Jenner will negotiate a fresh agreement with the government.

The JLN ran on a platform of “transparency, accountability, and integrity” but did not release any policies ahead of the election.