Jacqui Lambie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Senator Jacqui Lambie
Lambie in 2017
President of the Jacqui Lambie Network
Incumbent
Assumed office July 2024
Leader of the Jacqui Lambie Network
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 May 2015
Preceded by	Position established
Deputy Leader of Palmer United in the Senate
In office 1 July – 19 November 2014
Leader	Glenn Lazarus
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Senator for Tasmania
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2019
In office 1 July 2014 – 14 November 2017
Succeeded by	Steve Martin
Personal details
Born	Jacquiline Louise Lambie (1971-02-26) 26 February 1971 (age 54) Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia
Citizenship	Australian (since 1971) British (until 2019)
Political party	Jacqui Lambie Network (since 2015)
Other political affiliations	Palmer United (2013–2014) Independent (2012–2013; 2014–2015) Liberal (2011–2012) Labor (2008)
Children	2
Residences	Burnie, Tasmania
Education	Devonport High School
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1989–2000
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Military Police (1996–2000) Transport Corps (1990–1995)

Jacquiline Louise Lambie (born 26 February 1971) is an Australian politician. She is the leader and founder of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) political party. She has been a Senator for Tasmania since 2019. She also served as a Senator from 2014 to 2017.

Jacqui Lambie grew up in public housing in Devonport. She later served as a corporal in the Australian Army. She joined the Palmer United Party (PUP), led by Australian billionaire Clive Palmer. She was elected to the Senate in the 2013 federal election. Her term started in July 2014. Lambie became well-known for her strong campaign and her passionate way of speaking in Parliament. She focused on issues like foreign affairs, support for veterans, and youth unemployment. In November 2014, she left the Palmer United Party. She then became an independent Senator.

In May 2015, she started her own political party, the Jacqui Lambie Network. She was re-elected in the 2016 Australian federal election. In November 2017, it was found that she also held British citizenship. This meant she could not be a Senator under Australian law. She resigned on 14 November 2017. After a recount, Steve Martin replaced her. Lambie was re-elected to the Senate in the 2019 election. She began her second term as Senator on 1 July 2019.

Early Life and Education

Jacqui Lambie is a Palawa woman. She was born in Ulverstone, a town in north-western Tasmania. Her parents separated when she was 13 years old.

She was raised in a public housing area in Devonport. She attended Devonport High School. Jacqui Lambie was one of only four members of the 46th Parliament of Australia who did not finish high school.

Military Service

Joining the Australian Army (1989–2000)

Jacqui Lambie joined the Australian Army in 1989. She completed her basic training while pregnant with her first child. Her pregnancy was discovered four months later.

After training, she joined the Royal Australian Corps of Transport in 1990. She worked there for five years. Then she moved to the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police. She worked there for another five years. She reached the rank of Corporal.

In July 1997, Lambie hurt her back during a training exercise. This caused long-term problems for her spine. She was discharged from the Army in 2000 due to her injury. After this, she sought support from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA).

She has since become a strong supporter for veterans. She has worked with groups like the Returned and Services League of Australia. She also helped with fundraising for local community groups.

Advocacy for Veterans' Rights

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) first said no to her request for help. But they later approved it and gave her a military disability pension. She then asked for support for depression related to her back pain. This was also first rejected.

Lambie fought the department's decision for five years. During this time, she received a disability pension from Centrelink. In 2006, the DVA agreed that Lambie was entitled to support. The tribunal's Deputy President, Justice Christopher Wright, noted that her health might have improved sooner if her medical treatments had not been stopped.

Political Journey

Starting in Politics (2008–2012)

Jacqui Lambie's journey into politics began in 2008. She started working for Labor Senator Nick Sherry in Tasmania.

In November 2011, she joined the Liberal Party of Australia. She later decided to try to become a candidate for the Division of Braddon. She then left the Liberal Party. She said she joined to learn about politics.

In 2012, Lambie sold her house to help pay for her campaign as an independent. She then joined the new Palmer United Party. She said she needed funding for advertising, which the party's leader, billionaire Clive Palmer, could provide.

Serving in the Senate (2013–Present)

Lambie (back row; middle) at a memorial unveiling in Burnie, Tasmania

In the 2013 federal election, Lambie won a Senate seat for Tasmania. She was a candidate for the Palmer United Party. She received 6.58% of the first votes. She said her win was due to "the big man upstairs," meaning God.

On 24 November 2014, Lambie left the Palmer United Party. She announced she would continue in the Senate as an independent. This happened after several weeks of disagreements with party leader Clive Palmer.

In April 2015, she applied to register her own political party, the Jacqui Lambie Network. In May 2015, the party was officially registered. Lambie became its leader. She was re-elected to the Senate in the 2016 Australian federal election under her new party.

On 14 November 2017, Lambie announced she was resigning from the Senate. This was because she held both British and Australian nationality. Australian law does not allow politicians to have dual citizenship. She said she wanted to return to federal politics later.

In 2018, the High Court decided that Lambie's running mate, Steve Martin, would take her place. Lambie expected Martin to resign so she could return to the Senate. When Martin refused, Lambie removed him from her party.

Lambie was re-elected to the Senate in the 2019 election. She became a Senator for the second time on 1 July 2019. In 2019, during a debate about a government bill, Lambie made a strong statement. She said she would vote for the bill if a union leader, John Setka, did not resign. She even invited him to her home to discuss it. She eventually voted against the bill after her changes were not accepted.

Key Political Views

Higher Education Support

In 2020, Lambie spoke against a bill about university reforms. She believed it would harm students from low-income families. She said she would not vote for a bill that would tell "poor kids out there... you're never going to make it, because you can't afford it."

Addressing Army Concerns

In February 2016, Lambie brought up concerns about former soldiers. She called for an investigation into claims of abuse and how they were handled.

Foreign Policy and Defence

In August 2014, Lambie shared her thoughts on national security. She believed Australia needed to be aware of potential threats. She also suggested bringing back national service for young people. She said it would help teach "respect, loyalty and honour."

In October 2015, she opposed the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement. She described the Chinese government as "anti-democratic."

In October 2014, Lambie said she admired Vladimir Putin's strong leadership. In February 2015, she called for the reintroduction of the death penalty for Australian citizens who become foreign fighters.

Views on Islam

In September 2014, Lambie planned to introduce a bill to ban the burqa in Australia. She also spoke against supporters of Islamic sharia law. When asked to explain sharia law, she linked it to terrorism.

In January 2017, she suggested Australia should follow Donald Trump's lead. She called for deporting Muslims who supported Sharia law.

After appearing on the TV show Go Back to Where You Came From in 2018, Lambie's views on refugees changed. She said that discussions about accepting more refugees should be considered.

Relationship with The Greens

In October 2013, she criticized the Australian Greens. She accused them of harming Tasmania's economy. In July 2015, she compared The Greens to Islamic State. She said both groups "would like us to go back and live in the dark ages."

In 2020, Lambie worked with The Greens. They both criticized a bill that would change political donation laws.

Key Policies

Political Donations Reform

In February 2020, Lambie introduced a bill to the Australian Senate. It aimed to make political donation laws stricter. The bill proposed lowering the amount of money that needs to be reported for donations. She suggested changing it from $14,300 to $2,500.

The bill also wanted organizations running political campaigns to show where their money comes from.

Supporting Australian Manufacturing

In early 2020, Lambie started a campaign to support Australian manufacturing. She was concerned about Australia relying too much on products from other countries. She believes this affects Australia's economic independence.

Concerns about Foreign Interference

Lambie has stated her concerns about foreign attempts to influence Australia's economy and democracy. She believes it is important for Parliament to be aware of these issues.

Television Appearances

Personal Life

Jacqui Lambie is single and has two children. Her first son, Brentyn, was born in 1989. She met John Milverton while working in the Army. They had another son, Dylan, born in 1992. Milverton and Lambie separated before she left the Army in 2000. In August 2015, she spoke publicly about her son's struggle with addiction. She has also shared that she was once addicted to pain medication.

Lambie lives in Burnie, Tasmania. In 2014, Lambie described herself as Catholic and religious.

Aboriginal Heritage

In her first speech to Parliament in 2014, Lambie said she has "blood, culture, and history" with Aboriginal Australians. She stated she is a descendant of Mannalargenna, an Aboriginal Tasmanian leader. She later provided a family tree claiming descent from Margaret Briggs, a granddaughter of Mannalargenna.

Lambie's claims of Indigenous descent have been discussed by various sources. Some have questioned her claims, while others have accepted her self-identification. The Parliamentary Library of Australia includes Lambie on its list of Indigenous parliamentarians.