The independent senator travelled to Townsville this week to urge Queenslanders to vote against the Liberal National Party government as a protest against the Commonwealth’s ADF pay offer.

‘‘Your local LNP federal politicians may have let you down, but you can send a powerful signal to the LNP leaders, Tony Abbott and Campbell Newman this Saturday,’’ she said.

Mr Nikolic said Senator Lambie should focus on her own state.

‘‘Senator Lambie says there are lots of problems to fix in Tasmania, so how is she fixing them by campaigning in the Queensland state election?’’ he said.

‘‘By automatically rejecting all government legislation, Senator Lambie is effectively vacating her role in Parliament, failing to use her influence in support of Tasmania’s interests.

‘‘Is she going to continue her dummy spit or do her job on behalf of the Tasmanian people?’’

But Senator Lambie hit back, saying she had helped force the government to back down over the Medicare co-payment.

‘‘I’ve already saved every sick Tasmanian who had to visit their GP – $20 per visit ... what has Mr Nikolic done, apart from betraying his former comrades in the ADF and whingeing while I worked?’’ she said.

‘‘I’ve already organised a delegation of senior Tasmanian business leaders to visit the Prime Minister on Monday, February 9.

‘‘We’ll be talking to the PM about how we can save 10,000 Tasmanian workers’ jobs and lower the cost of Bass Strait freight and travel.’’

Senator Lambie on Thursday defended her decision to visit Queensland, and to claim a travel expense, saying the defence pay issue affected Tasmanian soldiers and veterans.

Queenslanders head to the polls today.