Palmer's new swipe at Lambie
Clive Palmer has ripped into renegade senator Jacqui Lambie before her likely resignation from his party, suggesting she wrongly claimed a disability payment and accusing her of lying to the media and her colleagues.
Senator Lambie, who has been brawling with Mr Palmer for weeks demanding he support her push to get better pay for military personnel, is threatening to break free of the Palmer United Party and sit as an independent.
Senator Lambie's defection would be a big blow to Mr Palmer's ability to demand legislative concessions from the Government.
A split from the party would also complicate Government efforts to pass Bills through the Upper House.
Mr Palmer attacked Senator Lambie yesterday as a person of "questionable honesty", complaining she would not have been elected without his support. He said she was receiving a disability support pension at the same time she was a full-time employee of his party.
"The question remains was she receiving disability payments for being unable to work while receiving a full-time salary at the same time from the Palmer United Party," Mr Palmer said.
"Senator Lambie flew at the cost and expense of the Palmer United Party to Queensland and South Australia to visit veterans groups. She also met with Pauline Hanson."
Mr Palmer said Senator Lambie was elected to the Senate by 22,000 Tasmanians who voted above the line for PUP but she got only 1500 votes herself.
"She completed her deception by seeking to establish a public profile by using Palmer United to create conflict that did not exist and lied repeatedly to the media about her colleagues," Mr Palmer said.
"She continues to act dishonestly and lie about me and other party members to gain media attention."
Arriving in Canberra yesterday before the final parliamentary sitting period, Senator Lambie said she was "coming to the end of the rope" in dealing with Mr Palmer.
She was seeking legal advice on leaving PUP.
