Jacqui Lambie decides on whether to make bid for Legislative Council
Senator Jacqui Lambie plans to run Senate candidates in three other Australian states - and she’s made a call about whether to run in Tasmania’s Upper House.
Tasmania
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As she prepares to run candidates in other states, Senator Jacqui Lambie, has ruled out her party making a bid for Tasmania’s Legislative Council.
And a Tasmanian academic has warned the Jacquie Lambie Network will need to “stand for something” if she is to win more seats.
Senator Lambie says she is focussing on next year’s election where she will seek re-election.
The JLN elected three members at the state election in March but asked if she would consider running a candidate in the Upper House she said “absolutely not”.
“You’d have to be out there with them (candidates), especially if they are new,” Senator Lambie said.
“You have got to be switched on, you have got to know what’s going on.”
She has already announced the party’s first Queensland candidate for the Senate, Angle Harper, who she trained with in the Army and who is a former Canberra press gallery journalist.
“We won’t have a lot of money or anything, so we’re just going to put them out there.
Queensland is sorted, New South Wales will be out in the next fortnight I think, and then South Australia not far behind.
“I’m just going have a shot.
“I’m up for election. That’s why I’m doing it, because I’ve got to be out there anyway.
“If you don’t have a go, you’ll never know, so I’m just going to have a go.
“What’s the worst thing? Nobody gets up.”
Professor Richard Herr said Senator Lambie was one of the “better known” politicians from a minor party.
But, he said whether she would succeed in getting more senators elected in NSW, Queensland and South Australia remained to be seen.
“In order to be successful her brand has to stand for something,” Professor Herr said.
“For example, the Greens are a political movement with ideals which attracts people.
“People are looking for idealism in their politicians.
“The question will be whether she identifies issues that coalesce into a sustainable movement.”
Professor Herr said Clive Palmer had a “brand and money” but had not lasted in politics.
Senator Lambie was elected under the Palmer United Party before she split since being elected under her own banner.
She said she was pleased with the three JLN MPs in Tasmania saying they had done “really, really well” and were looking forward to going through the first budget.
Senator Lambie has criticised people opposing the University of Tasmania’s move to the city and providing housing at the Sandy Bay campus describing them as NIMBYs.
“They run around saying all these people need a roof over their head and are all righteous about that but not in their backyard,” she said.
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