SENATOR Jacqui Lambie's Tasmanian peers are unmoved by speculation she may form her own political party, but are divided over her opposition to rebate cuts for brief general practice visits. Senator Lambie confirmed to Fairfax Media this week she had sought advice on forming a party and getting candidates elected. The ex-PUP senator said she was considering the prospect after being approached by a number of Defence personnel, veterans and Tasmanians offering her encouragement. Tasmanian Labor Senator Carol Brown said yesterday it was entirely a matter for Senator Lambie whether she decided to launch her own political party. "Labor will continue to speak with Senator Lambie on a range of important issues and legislation that comes before the Senate," Senator Brown said. Senator Lambie yesterday sided with Labor, the Greens and three crossbench senators in forming a voting block required to sink the federal government's planned $20 cut to Medicare rebates for short visits to the doctors. "When the first opportunity arises at the next sitting of the Senate, I will support a disallowance vote, which abolishes Mr Abbott's new $20 Medicare fee," Senator Lambie said. Senator Brown welcomed her pledge to strike down the change, but Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic did not. Mr Nikolic said it was not good enough for any politician to oppose government policy without proposing an alternative option. "If your default answer to every policy issue the government puts up is no, you tend to rule yourself out of rational debate," Mr Nikolic said. "Every politician, be they a member of a major party or crossbencher, has to think about contributing constructively to policy discussions about ways to make things like pensions and Medicare sustainable into the future." Australian Greens leader Christine Milne was contacted for comment, but declined to weigh into the debate.
SENATOR Jacqui Lambie's Tasmanian peers are unmoved by speculation she may form her own political party, but are divided over her opposition to rebate cuts for brief general practice visits.
Senator Lambie confirmed to Fairfax Media this week she had sought advice on forming a party and getting candidates elected.
The ex-PUP senator said she was considering the prospect after being approached by a number of Defence personnel, veterans and Tasmanians offering her encouragement.
Tasmanian Labor Senator Carol Brown said yesterday it was entirely a matter for Senator Lambie whether she decided to launch her own political party.
"Labor will continue to speak with Senator Lambie on a range of important issues and legislation that comes before the Senate," Senator Brown said.
Senator Lambie yesterday sided with Labor, the Greens and three crossbench senators in forming a voting block required to sink the federal government's planned $20 cut to Medicare rebates for short visits to the doctors.
"When the first opportunity arises at the next sitting of the Senate, I will support a disallowance vote, which abolishes Mr Abbott's new $20 Medicare fee," Senator Lambie said.
Senator Brown welcomed her pledge to strike down the change, but Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic did not.
Mr Nikolic said it was not good enough for any politician to oppose government policy without proposing an alternative option.
"If your default answer to every policy issue the government puts up is no, you tend to rule yourself out of rational debate," Mr Nikolic said.
"Every politician, be they a member of a major party or crossbencher, has to think about contributing constructively to policy discussions about ways to make things like pensions and Medicare sustainable into the future."
Australian Greens leader Christine Milne was contacted for comment, but declined to weigh into the debate.
