Martin takes his chances

NEW Jacqui Lambie Network Senate hopeful and Devonport Mayor Steve Martin says he is happy to be the “guinea pig” to test and solve a longstanding question over the eligibility of local government leaders to stand for Federal Parliament.

Ald Martin announced yesterday he had decided to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of senator Jacqui Lambie this week after it was confirmed she was a dual British citizen by descent.

“Thirty-eight mayors have been elected to Parliament and not one of those cases has been referred to the High Court,” Ald Martin said yesterday.

“If the Government decide that my case is to be the test case to help solve a problem that has been put in the too hard basket for 20 years, then I am happy for that to happen.

“Basically my position is: I am eligible, prove that I am not. If they choose to send my case to the High Court, I am very comfortable it will be found I do not hold an office of profit under the Crown.

“If I am deemed ineligible, it will give potential future candidates from Australia’s 560 or so local government areas clear direction on where they stand.”

Ald Martin said he would not refer himself to the court because of the huge involved but wait for Government to do so.

He said that while Ms Lambie was a “good mate” and on “his speed dial”, she would not be controlling his decisionmaking in the Senate despite still being the leader of the Jacqui Lambie Network.

Ms Lambie, who is in the process of clearing out her Burnie office, says her focus is getting JLN members into Tasmania’s Parliament.

“The candidates I will run are real people running to make real change,” she said.

“They want to see Tasmanians receive better healthcare, better education and have more job opportunities.”

A letter written in response cost the to questions over Ald Martin’s edibility to stand as a JLN candidate in the Senate in 2016 from Rosemary Laing also raises the extensive history of members of Parliament also holding office as members of local government bodies.

“While this does not resolve the question, it seems quite remarkable that there have been no challenges on this point,” the letter says.

Ald Martin said he would not resign as mayor until the situation was resolved.

Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz said he wished Ald Martin well but it was important to ensure the integrity of the Parliament and questions about his eligibility needed to be considered.