Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie posts TikTok following viral vaccine speech

After her speech in support of vaccine mandates set TikTok on fire this week, Senator Jacqui Lambie has taken to the social media platform in a bid to connect with her younger supporters.

Look out, world – Jacqui Lambie is on TikTok.

The firebrand Tasmanian independent senator has embraced the social media platform after an impassioned speech she delivered in the Senate earlier this week sparked a flurry of content from TikTok users.

Senator Lambie’s speech denounced far-right party One Nation’s bill to ban vaccine mandates, which was ultimately defeated on Monday.

“Being held accountable for your actions isn’t called discrimination, it’s called being, you wouldn’t believe it, a goddamn bloody adult,” she said in the speech.

The audio has since been remixed into catchy dance tracks by TikTokers and has inspired some creative dances.

Users of the app voiced their overwhelming approval of the senator’s speech.

Senator Jacqui Lambie in the Press Gallery in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

@lambienetwork 💃😉 #jacquilambie#auspol#jackielambie#fyp#foryoupage#remix#australianpolitics#trending♬ original sound - Lambienetwork

“Finally Jacqui putting people in their places,” one wrote in the comments.

“So much respect for Jacqui right now,” another said. “I love her.”

And so Senator Lambie has been left with little choice but to dive headfirst into the world of TikTok and engage with her younger constituents.

“I feel like I’m going into a black hole, mate,” she told the Mercury.

“I don’t really understand it. That’s my problem. But I tell you what, though – I have no fear. I’m coming to play.”

Senator Lambie had uploaded six videos to TikTok at the time of print (under the handle @lambienetwork), with her latest being a playful re-enactment of her vaccine speech.

Senator Jacqui Lambie has unwittingly inspired a new TikTok dance trend, with TikTokers sending the crossbencher's fiery rant viral.

She was full of praise for the TikTok users who had gotten creative with the speech.

“Good on them,” she said. “I think it’s great.”

“If it’s keeping that age group out of trouble and if they’re having fun – and it looks like it’s good, clean fun – then that’s great.

“I find it really funny. Because we’ve all got a sense of humour in Tasmania, so when you look at people like that, it gives you the giggles.”

With more than 400,000 followers on Facebook, 68,000 on Twitter, and 37,000 on Instagram, Senator Lambie’s primary mode of communication with her supporters is social media.

Now she’s keen to use TikTok to connect with a younger audience.

“We don’t have those big political donations so I can’t afford to run ads,” she said. “It’s the only way I can get through to people, by using those social media platforms.”