‘We’re not sheep,’ say Lambies, hosing down disunity talk

A Jacqui Lambie Network state MP has denied sending an ultimatum to the party’s federal leader to butt out of state affairs. He signalled what’s ahead for the network.

Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner speaks to the media at Parliament House in Hobart on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

A Jacqui Lambie Network state MP has denied sending an ultimatum to the party’s federal leader to butt out of state affairs.

Media reports on Tuesday claimed the trio of state MPs had sent a legal letter to Senator Lambie.

But member for Lyons Andrew Jenner said it was news to him.

“She’s our boss but she’s made it very clear to us that unless we ask, she won’t get involved,” he said.

“We were talking about putting the agreement together between us, so we knew our parameters knew what we should be doing as well.

“We were talking about an agreement. It hasn’t been done.”

Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner.

Mr Jenner said that although the trio — himself, Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick had faced a steep learning curve in their first weeks of parliament, they had surrendered none of their independence despite signing a deal to support the Liberals.

“It’s what people voted us in for: that we weren’t just like sheep following the whip and the party line,” he said.

“We just feel strong thoughts on whatever it might be, we vote even for it or against it.

“At the moment is working really well.”

Mr Jenner confirmed the party was seeking to renegotiate its deal with the Liberals when it expires after 12 months.

He said there were a couple of clauses in the agreement he was keen to see removed which bound the independents to notify the government before voting against them.

“I do understand why we put them in because they didn’t know us and they had to make sure that they had a smooth running and that it was a supportive role that we were playing, that we weren’t going to be any sort of trouble I guess.

“They didn’t know that, so I one hundred per cent understand why they did it but hopefully, at the end of the 12 months, they won’t need to worry about that anymore

“We are trying to keep a stable government. That’s the main thing. We want a stable government, the economy needs it.

“We’re looking at recession times right around the world and the last thing we want to do in Tasmania is start making it unbalanced. We want to try and keep a stable government and we want to be part of that.”

Labor member for Clark Josh Willie MP at Franklin Square. Picture: Chris Kidd

Labor’s Josh Willie said the agreement with the Lambie was the only thing keeping the Liberals in government.

“Without it, the government will be on even shakier ground than it is now,” he said.

“Jacqui Lambie’s name is also the only thing that got the three Tasmanian MPs elected, and with no policies and no appetite to speak-up on important matters, they can hardly claim to be a stable unit without her.

“Jeremy Rockliff got it right when he warned Tasmanians that chaos in the parliament would lead to chaos in the economy – he just didn’t say that the chaos would be his.

“Since Premier Rockliff’s leadership sent his government into minority, Tasmania has already shed 5,000 jobs, the economy is flatlining and Tasmanians are leaving the state in record numbers for better opportunities elsewhere.”