POLITICAL analysts say Tasmanian Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie is risking her credibility by using parliamentary privilege to make allegations about the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. The rogue Senator took to the floor of the Senate on Tuesday night to make serious claims against the TAC – including links to bikie gangs and misappropriation of funds – and called for a royal commission into the management of indigenous affairs in Tasmania. TAC chief executive Heather Sculthorpe hit back yesterday, and said the actions were ‘‘cowardly’’. ‘‘Our organisation has an outstanding record of financial probity and good governance,’’ Ms Sculthorpe said. ‘‘If there is any factual basis to the Senator’s claims, she should have the courage of her convictions and make them in a forum where she can be challenged,’’ she said. Senator Lambie told Parliament she was threatened following her maiden speech in the Senate when she spoke of her Aboriginal heritage, which was described by Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Clyde Mansell as ‘‘absolutely outrageous and scandalous’’. ‘‘The allegations of threats of physical harm to myself and others – according to whistleblowers – come from people associated with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and members of the Mansell family,’’ she said. The fledgling Senator has made headlines on a range of issues since entering the Senate, such as a call for an Aboriginal quota in Parliament, banning the burqa, and telling Sharia law followers to ‘‘pack their bags’’. Political analyst Kevin Bonham said PUP had a ‘‘limited market place’’ and the headlines might not be doing Senator Lambie any favours. ‘‘There’s the obvious risk of losing credibility, but there’d already be so many people for whom she’s already lost all credibility by this stage anyway,’’ Dr Bonham said. ‘‘It may be that voters will agree with her on some things and be turned off supporting her on others, because she says so many strident things,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s no evidence they’re [PUP] getting any polling boost out of this.’’
Senator Jacqui Lambie addressing the Senate on Tuesday night.
POLITICAL analysts say Tasmanian Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie is risking her credibility by using parliamentary privilege to make allegations about the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
The rogue Senator took to the floor of the Senate on Tuesday night to make serious claims against the TAC – including links to bikie gangs and misappropriation of funds – and called for a royal commission into the management of indigenous affairs in Tasmania.
TAC chief executive Heather Sculthorpe hit back yesterday, and said the actions were ‘‘cowardly’’.
‘‘Our organisation has an outstanding record of financial probity and good governance,’’ Ms Sculthorpe said.
‘‘If there is any factual basis to the Senator’s claims, she should have the courage of her convictions and make them in a forum where she can be challenged,’’ she said.
Senator Lambie told Parliament she was threatened following her maiden speech in the Senate when she spoke of her Aboriginal heritage, which was described by Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Clyde Mansell as ‘‘absolutely outrageous and scandalous’’.
‘‘The allegations of threats of physical harm to myself and others – according to whistleblowers – come from people associated with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and members of the Mansell family,’’ she said.
The fledgling Senator has made headlines on a range of issues since entering the Senate, such as a call for an Aboriginal quota in Parliament, banning the burqa, and telling Sharia law followers to ‘‘pack their bags’’.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham said PUP had a ‘‘limited market place’’ and the headlines might not be doing Senator Lambie any favours.
‘‘There’s the obvious risk of losing credibility, but there’d already be so many people for whom she’s already lost all credibility by this stage anyway,’’ Dr Bonham said.
‘‘It may be that voters will agree with her on some things and be turned off supporting her on others, because she says so many strident things,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s no evidence they’re [PUP] getting any polling boost out of this.’’
