Senator Tammy Tyrrell quits Jacqui Lambie Network, will represent Tasmania as independent

Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell has made a shock announcement, declaring she has left the Jacqui Lambie Network.

In a brief statement and accompanying video, the first-term senator declared Senator Lambie had “indicated she’s not happy” with the way Senator Tyrrell had been representing the network.

Senator Tyrrell said she had not been “kicked out”, rather it was suggested she “go it alone”.

“I am not doing this because I want to harm Jacqui or the Network. I want to see Jacqui and the JLN continue to succeed,” she said.

“As it is now clear that the Network does not have confidence in my ability to contribute to that success, I do not wish to do anything in my advocacy for Tasmania that might harm it.”

“With that in mind, the best thing I can do is to step aside to allow the Network to shine. I don’t want to hold them back. I believe this is the best thing for Jacqui, the Network, myself, but most importantly, the people of Tasmania right now.”

Senator Lambie’s office has been contacted for comment.

Senator Tyrrell began working for Senator Lambie in her Burnie office in 2014, and used her first speech to the senate to reminisce on her feeling “terrified, cacking my dacks” on her first day.

“I didn’t get here (to the Senate) because of Jacqui,” she said in that speech.

“We got here together. And I love her to bits, because we are a team.”

Senator Tyrrell’s announcement came as a shock just days after the network became kingmakers in the state election.

The Tasmanian Liberal Party is still in negotiations with first-term MPs from the network in order to form a minority government after Saturday’s vote.