Bagpipes in bin, but spirit is strong

Lambie plans to reboot her political career

NICK CLARK JACQUI Lambie has returned to Burnie determined that her colourful career in politics is not over.

In the wake of her emotional farewell from the Senate on Tuesday, the outspoken Ms Lambie said her first concern was to help the transition of her likely successor, Devonport Mayor Steve Martin.

However, Mr Martin last night cancelled a media conference to announce his intentions today, casting doubts on whether he will accept the position.

Ms Lambie is waiting for a political opportunity, whether it be in the federal Lower House in Braddon or the next half Senate election.

“I haven’t really thought about it, I’m just waiting to see what happens in Parliament,” she said.

“I’m just waiting for it to implode. There is already a constitutional dilemma up there and now some Liberals are not going to respect the people’s vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey.”

But first things first — she renounced her Scottish citizenship at a cost of 321 pounds.

“I’m putting those bagpipes in the bin, they’re gone, along with the bloody kilt,” she said in reference to the dual citizenship she inherited via her Scottish-born father, Tom.

She was also planning for a meal with her Dad last night.

“I’ve spoken to Dad, he’s going to help me move some boxes,” she laughed.

“We’ll have another good cry tonight no doubt and we’ll move it along.”

Ms Lambie said she was “absolutely” going to have another tilt at politics but was waiting to see what unfolded at the “Christmas turkey carveup” in Canberra.

“I’m just waiting to see. Braddon is an option, but I would like to see whether I can get more for Tasmania by being in a balance-of-power position,” she said.

“[I’ll] just have to wait and see and work out the numbers and the strategy and all that.

“While they’re fighting it out up there and while there is dual citizens still sitting in there — they know who they are — and want to fight it out in court I’m going to get out there with my boots on with my Jacqui Lambie Network jacket on, helping my state candidates and helping myself get ready for the next election.”

There has been speculation Ms Lambie could contest in Braddon if Labor MP Justine Keay was disqualified or resigned over the dual citizenship saga. But polling analyst Kevin Bonham said it would be hard for Ms Lambie to win the seat in a by-election.

“Assuming that both major parties ran, I think that Lambie would still finish third,” he said. “I don’t think she would win.”

Dr Bonham said he believed Labor would win, followed by a Liberal candidate and Ms Lambie third. He said the sympathy vote in a case where two of the three candidates had been disqualified over dual citizenship would be unusual and interesting.

“Maybe Lambie has been more successful in getting that sympathy with her teary resignation and all that sort of stuff and whether Keay would get that same sort of sympathy, I’m not sure,” he said.