ROGUE Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has been demoted by the Palmer United Party for failing to show up to meetings. PUP leader Clive Palmer yesterday announced Senator Lambie had been dumped from her position of deputy whip and deputy leader in the Senate, and was barred from attending future meetings. "This will be enforced until such time she gives an undertaking to cease personal attacks on party members and to follow major decisions of the party room," Mr Palmer said. The demotion comes after weeks of infighting within the party. Senator Lambie has fallen out with Mr Palmer over her promise to oppose all government legislation until it promises to pay the military more. She yesterday voted with Labor, the Greens and a handful of crossbenchers to disallow the government's changes to financial advice regulation, despite her party reaching an agreement with the Liberals. "I have to do what's right for my Tasmanians and I didn't believe we were doing the right thing [by supporting the government's financial advice changes]," she said in Canberra. Senate Lambie told Parliament that Mr Palmer had spread rumours about her and caused her personal distress, but she stopped short of announcing her resignation from the party. "I won't be told how to vote. Not by anyone," she said. The voting bloc switch will make it much harder for the government to get legislation through the Senate. Senator Lambie made no comment on the demotion, but Mr Palmer said she had failed to attend the past three meetings. "At no time has Jacqui Lambie ever brought a resolution to the party meeting in relation to Tasmania or veterans," Mr Palmer said. Mr Palmer said Senator Lambie had not resigned from the party because "she knows in her heart she believes in everything we stand for". Last week Mr Palmer labelled her a "drama queen" and dared her to challenge him for the leadership if she was truly unhappy with the party's direction. Senator Lambie said on Monday she had not made a decision on whether she would stay in the party. Her photo has been removed from the PUP website.
ROGUE Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has been demoted by the Palmer United Party for failing to show up to meetings.
PUP leader Clive Palmer yesterday announced Senator Lambie had been dumped from her position of deputy whip and deputy leader in the Senate, and was barred from attending future meetings.
"This will be enforced until such time she gives an undertaking to cease personal attacks on party members and to follow major decisions of the party room," Mr Palmer said.
The demotion comes after weeks of infighting within the party.
Senator Lambie has fallen out with Mr Palmer over her promise to oppose all government legislation until it promises to pay the military more.
She yesterday voted with Labor, the Greens and a handful of crossbenchers to disallow the government's changes to financial advice regulation, despite her party reaching an agreement with the Liberals.
"I have to do what's right for my Tasmanians and I didn't believe we were doing the right thing [by supporting the government's financial advice changes]," she said in Canberra.
Senate Lambie told Parliament that Mr Palmer had spread rumours about her and caused her personal distress, but she stopped short of announcing her resignation from the party.
"I won't be told how to vote. Not by anyone," she said.
The voting bloc switch will make it much harder for the government to get legislation through the Senate.
Senator Lambie made no comment on the demotion, but Mr Palmer said she had failed to attend the past three meetings.
"At no time has Jacqui Lambie ever brought a resolution to the party meeting in relation to Tasmania or veterans," Mr Palmer said.
Mr Palmer said Senator Lambie had not resigned from the party because "she knows in her heart she believes in everything we stand for".
Last week Mr Palmer labelled her a "drama queen" and dared her to challenge him for the leadership if she was truly unhappy with the party's direction.
Senator Lambie said on Monday she had not made a decision on whether she would stay in the party.
