Media release – Jacqui Lambie Network, 24 August 2024
STATEMENT FROM THE JLN ON MS BESWICK AND PENTLAND
Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland have made it clear that they no longer represent the Jacqui Lambie Network’s values of accountability, transparency and integrity. As such, they will no longer serve as Jacqui Lambie Network Members of Parliament in Tasmania’s House of Assembly.
This issue appears to have arisen from the suggestion that the Minister for Infrastructure, Michael Ferguson, be held accountable for the worst ministerial failure in living memory—the absolute debacle of the Spirit of Tasmania replacements and berth redevelopments with estimates that every 12-month delay is a $350 million hit to the Tasmanian economy.
Senator Lambie’s statement regarding Minister Ferguson reflected the time-honoured democratic principle under the Westminster system of Ministerial responsibility and accountability and the Jacqui Lambie Network’s election commitment to those values.
For far too long, ministers have not been held to account for disgraceful public administration failures, which needs to stop. That is why the Jacqui Lambie Network made this a fundamental platform in its election campaign, and we would not be worthy of the votes we received if we walked away from that commitment now.
It is unfortunate that Mrs Beswick and Mrs Pentland failed to uphold the Jacqui Lambie Network values of transparency and accountability. Their cosy relationship with Minister Ferguson and the sharing of Question Time questions with the government before asking them undermines the duty to the people of Tasmania to hold the government to account. Saul Eslake’s independent report on the state’s finances painted a bleak outlook of Tasmania’s economic future. Ms Beswick and Pentland have squandered their golden opportunity to hold the government to account and improve Tasmania’s position.
Andrew Jenner MP will continue to represent the Jacqui Lambie Network and uphold our values. The Jacqui Lambie Network is proud of the work of Mr Jenner and we will continue to support him in anyway we can.
Media release – Andrew Jenner MP, 24 August 2024
STATEMENT FROM ANDREW JENNER MP ON MS BESWICK AND PENTLAND
I stand with the Jacqui Lambie Network’s decision to immediately remove both Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland.
We all ran on a platform of accountability, transparency and integrity and we owe it to those who voted us in to do exactly that.
The Jacqui Lambie Network made it very clear. We did not have policies, but we had core values – to not uphold those values once elected is a slap in the face to every single person who voted for the Jacqui Lambie Network.
I decided to run with the Jacqui Lambie Network because I believed in what Jacqui stood for, and I whole heartedly still do. The difference of opinions and values between Ms Beswick, Ms Pentland and I had meant our relationship had become unworkable.
I will continue to push for transparency, integrity and accountability in every facet of state parliament and will continue to work tirelessly for the Lyons community.
Statement – Braddon MP Miriam Beswick and Bass MP Rebekah Pentland, 24 August 2024
— untitled —
It’s with heavy hearts that we confirm we’re no longer aligned with the Jacqui Lambie Network and will sit in parliament as independents.
From Mrs Beswick:
“I was honoured to be elected under the JLN banner and my values haven’t changed.
“But our relationship with Jacqui has unfortunately deteriorated over the past few months and it’s now best if we represent our electorates as independents.
“Jacqui Lambie is a formidable politician and plays a vital role in the Federal Parliament. We wish her the best.
“On behalf of Rebekah and I, I’d also like to thank Lyons MP Andrew Jenner for his support and wish him well.
Bass MP Rebekah Pentland said Tasmanians deserve certainty.
“We take the commitment we made to the Tasmanian people about offering supply and confidence very seriously.
“We’ll continue to provide confidence and supply and will look to formalise that arrangement in the near future.
“We’re entering a critical budget session and the parliament needs to function predictably. “Anything short of that will put business confidence at risk.
“No one wants to go to another election.
“We reject any assertion we no longer stand for accountability, transparency and integrity. They’re core values and they’ll continue to guide every decision we make.”
“Integrity, above all, is the reason we are departing from JLN. We committed to the agreement that Jacqui negotiated, and we are dedicated to honoring it. Stability is of utmost importance… Tasmania deserves that.
“I understand that many Tasmanians, including JLN supporters, will be surprised by today’s news.
“But as far as I’m concerned nothing changes when it comes to representing our communities.
“Miriam and I will stand together and fight for transparency, integrity and protecting essential public services.
“While we’re committing to stability, we’ll continue to be fierce critics of the Government when necessary. We’ve already shown we’re willing to vote against the Government when it’s in the best interests of the state.”
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 24 August 2024
Coalition’s collapse bad news for jobs and the economy
We have been expecting the implosion of the Jacqui Lambie Network and we didn’t need to wait long.
It was hard to see anyone delivering supply and confidence to this government. How could anyone have confidence in the Liberals when they are failing on every measure?
The Liberals have broken the budget, lurched from crisis to crisis and their Deputy Premier’s career is effectively on trial.
Tasmanians understand the risks of minority government. They have watched 5,000 jobs lost since the government first went into minority.
Jeremy Rockliff has been talking up minority government but the stability he promised is already gone. Even his own Party is at war with itself.
The budget is broken, the Spirits of Tasmania can’t berth at Devonport and there are dozens of broken promises that Jeremy Rockliff can no longer afford to deliver, including the new ED at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
I make the same commitment as I did at the commencement of this Parliament. Labor stands for jobs. My offer of confidence is to the Tasmanian business community and workers. Tasmanian Labor will continue to act sensibly and responsibly to protect Tasmanians from the Liberal dysfunction as much as we can.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 24 August 2024
Statement from the Premier
The Tasmanian Government is getting on with the job of delivering the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
It’s a plan that takes action on the things that Tasmanians care about, like cost of living, health, housing and education.
I pledged to work with the Parliament that the Tasmanian people elected.
That’s what I have done, and will continue to do.
I will not resile from this, no matter how hard it gets or whatever challenges are thrown my way.
I will not be distracted by an Opposition that has quickly reverted to their same old tactics of division, disruption and relentless negativity.
Labor continues to do whatever they can to destabilise and undermine Tasmania’s economy.
It was Labor’s choice not to reach across the political divide and form government.
We had the courage to do so for the good of Tasmania.
That collaboration has delivered an effective and productive Parliament.
I will continue to work with all MPs to ensure stability and certainty, so Tasmania continues to be the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family.
The party’s all but over for Lambie
The Jacqui Lambie Network is imploding, with two state MPs poised to leave the fledgling party amid deep frustration at its founder’s interference and threats against Tasmania’s minority government. Relations between Senator Lambie and her state MPs have reached rock bottom, with two of the three – Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland – no longer having a working relationship with their former mentor.
The Weekend Australian understands the two MPs are resigned to having to break with the JLN, potentially before parliament resumes on September 10, leaving them as independents.
A final straw has been Senator Lambie’s demands in recent weeks for the removal of Deputy Premier and Treasurer Michael Ferguson, weeks before a crucial state budget. It is understood Senator Lambie’s demand for Mr Ferguson’s resignation, over bungled Bass Strait ferry and wharf contracts, was issued to the media without prior consultation with state MPs.
Read the full story here: https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=b419435f-3e05-458a-b1be-289c2ae0983a
Simon Warriner
August 24, 2024 at 21:27
The problem with party politics as a concept is that it requires of its participants an inadequate understanding of the negative consequences of conflicted interests. Smart, competent individuals understand those negative consequences. They avoid them by not conflicting their interests.
Therefore smart, intelligent people are increasingly unavailable to political parties. If it isn’t obvious to you now, you are not paying attention.
The root of our problem is party politics. Not the players, but the game itself. The solution is to stop playing the game.
Phill Parsons
August 25, 2024 at 08:22
It seems Lambie’s future recruits will have to toe the line to stay in the unit. Having a 60% casualty rate does not make joining it an attractive proposition if you expect to be in a unit.
Of course, new recruits may come forward hoping for rapid promotion to independents. The trick will be convincing voters that the JLN is more than a one-person band.
Barry Dee
August 25, 2024 at 12:13
There are many issues in play here. I agree with Simon Warriner that “party politics” are a big part of the problem.
Having identified the iceberg approaching, Mr Eslake did his job and sounded a warning in time for a change of course. Yet the captain (and would-be captain) chose to ignore the dangers, and the imminent catastrophe, and chose instead to argue about the need for a string ensemble on the foredeck.
It is very sad that these folk cannot do their jobs and look after ALL the people of Tasmania!
James
August 26, 2024 at 10:06
The Jacquie Lambie Network is a one-trick pony; a totalitarian regime which some would say is dictatorial.
Only a donkey would keep voting for a Lambie.
Roderick
August 26, 2024 at 19:55
The “late, great, Hannibal Lecter” might.
Well, dictatorial behaviour is a common occurrence exhibited by backwards or backwoods politicians from both major parties in Tasmania where Conservative elements and compliant deniers of the truth are omnipresent. In the real world the psychopaths and narcissists who enjoy seats in our Parliament appear to be immune to the harsh realities facing the sick, and the poor or homeless in the intestate of Tasmania.
‘Who cares about the skate?’ they exclaim – we will save the salmon. We will enact retrospective legislation to protect our donors and our incompetence. We will remove justice, equity – unless it is for our mates- and transparency. We will carry on with our high ideals of propriety, but not for the common people, and we will pretend that the past should be removed and that we are marching on to fulfil our Strong Plan for 2030 and God bless all those who sail with us.
The rest of you can get lost.
Chris
August 27, 2024 at 09:05
The Minister for Standing Still has resigned!
Will the same minister give up his other stationary ministerships? Will Treasury progress beyond his Peter Principle, and will consumers be forced to cool their heels?
How incompetent will he have to be before he is replaced by one Premier-in-Waiting in the wings to take the reins?
How many failures does he have to achieve before the Deputy position of Premier is handed to the MIS hero scheming in the wings?
Who can’t see the wood for the trees?