'Seat at the Table': Independent Senator Joins Labor
Tammy Tyrrell becomes the second senator to join Labor in 12 months and says she will run for the party at the next election.
- On Thursday, Independent Senator Tammy Tyrrell announced she is joining the Labor Party, bringing the government's Senate representation to 30 seats in the 76-member chamber. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the defection.
- Tyrrell was elected in 2022 under the Jacqui Lambie Network banner before serving as an independent since 2024. She stated she had been courted by Labor members for two years, calling the party "a good fit."
- Defending the decision, Tyrrell refused to apologize, stating she remains committed to advocating for Tasmania. Senator Duniam criticized the defection as a tactical move to "save her job," accusing her of jumping "on the nearest life raft."
- The government still requires support from the Coalition or the Greens to secure the 39 votes necessary to pass legislation. Tyrrell confirmed she will run for Labor at the next election.
- Joining the party's Right faction, Tyrrell faces potential preselection challenges ahead of the 2028 election against stalwart Helen Polley. She defected 11 months after Western Australian senator Dorinda Cox similarly moved from the Greens to Labor.
13 Articles
13 Articles
‘Labor girl’: Tyrrell’s defection sparks political storm
The former Jacqui Lambie Senator, turned independent and now Labor Tammy Tyrrell’s stadium position is now a focal point of contention following her recent defection from the independent crossbench to the Australian Labor Party.
Tasmanian Senator Tammy Tyrrell Switches to Labor Party
Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell has joined the Australian Labor Party after sitting as an independent on the crossbench. The move strengthens Labor’s position in the Senate and in Tasmania, where the government holds a narrow political base. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement in Parliament House on May 14, where Senator Tyrrell stood alongside him in the parliamentary corridor. Albanese said Tyrrell would become part of Labor’…
Former Jacqui Lambie senator Tammy Tyrrell defects to Labor
Former Jacqui Lambie senator Tammy Tyrrell has defected to Labor after two years serving as an independent.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the Tasmanian senator will officially make the switch to his government today, a change of allegiance that will bring Labor's numbers in the Senate to 30.Tyrrell bluntly told reporters that she is proud to join the major party and would not "apologise to anybody" for making the switch.EXCLUSIVE…
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