POLITICAL commentators say Tasmanian Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie's six-year senate term will be ``strewn with controversy'', as the nation continues to react to sexist comments made in a radio interview.
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On Tuesday, the 43-year-old senator appeared on a Hobart radio show and told listeners she looked for male suitors with ``a package between their legs'' and ``lots of cash''.
She then went on to ask a 22-year-old caller if he had ``any diseases'' and whether he was ``well hung''.
The interview went viral and Senator Lambie apologised for any offence caused, and yesterday re-appeared on Heart 107.3 and said her comments showed ``we are all human'' and are ``just light-hearted Aussies''.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham said Senator Lambie's gaffes would be ``systematic''.
``She's already shown she gets involved in incidents constantly,'' Dr Bonham said.
``This is not the last time this sort of thing will happen,'' he said.
``The issue is whether the number of these incidents build up to a point that there's a widespread belief that everyone thinks she's damaged goods,'' he said.
Dr Bonham said Senator Lambie was elected on a ``reasonable rate''.
``She did have significant support, and even under a fairer electoral system she still might have won,'' he said.
Political academic Kate Crowley said senators who were elected outside the party machine were often ``like rabbits in headlights''.
``They are rough around the edges and find the adjustment challenging and exciting,'' Professor Crowley said.
``It's going to be fairly easy for them to step out of bounds before they even realise,'' she said.
``You'd have to say at the moment she's completely inexperienced.
``She hasn't quite realised that she's not having an informal chat with a friend, it's actually being beamed to the nation through social media.
``You need to be professional at all times.''