Jacqui Lambie registers political party
Newly independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has launched her own political party just months after defecting from Clive Palmer’s Palmer United Party.
The Tasmanian politician has applied to register a political party called the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN), with notices of her application appearing in Tasmanian newspapers on Tuesday.
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Senator Lambie does not have to prove to the Australian Electoral Commission that her party has 500 members because she is already a member of the upper house.
The 44-year-old famously quit the Palmer United Party last November after falling out with mining magnate Clive Palmer, saying she had to put the interests of Tasmanians first.
Spokesman Rob Messenger said the party would oppose the introduction of Sharia law in Australia.
There is no proposal to introduce Sharia law in Australia currently before Parliament.
“Being a member of Palmer United has prevented me from voting in this chamber in a manner that gives my Tasmania the best chance of recovering and once again becoming prosperous,” she said in Parliament.
Just last month, PUP Senator Glenn Lazarus also resigned from the party, saying he “didn’t appreciate” the way the party was being run.
Ms Lambie joins a growing list of Australian politicians to launch parties bearing their own name.
Queensland MP Bob Katter heads the Katter Australia Party, mining magnate Clive Palmer created the Palmer United Party and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon recently created NXT (Nick Xenophon Team).