TASMANIAN senator Jacqui Lambie has quit the Palmer United Party, making it even tougher for the government to get its legislation through Parliament.
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Amid a whirlwind of attacks from party leader Clive Palmer, Senator Lambie announced her independence in a speech to Parliament yesterday.
The Burnie-based former corporal said she could now better serve Tasmania, and would fight to protect the state's economic interests through changes to the renewable energy target and freight subsidies.
Mr Palmer sent Senator Lambie a series of sledges on her departure, saying she would not achieve much as an independent.
"She's not brought one proposal for veterans or Tasmania to the party room in the six months she's been here," Mr Palmer told Fairfax Media.
He said Senator Lambie had pre-empted the party's action against her, and did not rule out taking legal action.
Senator Lambie said she would not return Mr Palmer's "mudslinging", but apologised to Tasmanians for the damage done through her public feud with the PUP leader.
"My resignation today will end that damaging speculation and uncertainty," she said.
Senator Lambie was quick to reassert her position of blocking all government bills until the government increases its pay offer to Australian Defence Force personnel.
She also pledged to never vote for the government's university fee deregulation or co-payments for GP visits, making the passage of the changes even more uncertain.
The government's negotiating job could be difficult, with Senator Lambie indicating she got along with all her fellow senators, except the government's Senate leader Eric Abetz.
Senator Abetz said he would continue to work alongside his fellow Tasmanian.
"As far as I'm concerned, there is a task to be undertaken on behalf of the Australian people and that is a task that every senator needs to bear in mind," he told the ABC.
The government requires the support of four senators from an eclectic crossbench of 18 to pass its legislation.