Andrew Jenner has been left high and dry by the Jacqui Lambie Network after the party’s namesake senator shut the door on her short-lived state political experiment, leaving him unable to recontest under the JLN banner.
The last remaining JLN state MP has confirmed he has effectively been cut loose as Premier Jeremy Rockliff prepares to ask Governor Barbara Baker to dissolve parliament today for an early election.
“If a state election is called, I will not be running under the Jacqui Lambie Network banner,” Jenner said.
“Jacqui made it clear last year that she will not be endorsing candidates in future elections.”
Jenner said he will “keep fighting for what matters to Tasmania”, though it could be his final stint under the JLN name.
Lambie thanked Jenner in a Facebook post. “Whenever the election is called, I know that Andrew will continue to uphold the values of integrity and accountability that he has shown since he was elected,” she said.
“I would particularly like to thank him for his advocacy for the Westbrook family and for the welfare of the Tasmanian police.”
Jenner’s situation marks the end of the JLN’s tumultuous 16-month venture into Tasmanian state politics, a bold move that quickly flamed out after bitter internal rifts and broken promises.
The party made a splash at the March 2024 state election when three JLN candidates were elected to the House of Assembly for the first time. That result helped the Liberals form a minority government through a confidence and supply deal.
But it didn’t last. In August, Senator Lambie expelled two of her three state MPs – Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick – citing failures around “accountability, transparency and integrity”.
That left Jenner as the last man standing and Lambie declaring she was done with state politics.
“Those days of giving ordinary Tasmanians a go are over,” she said at the time.
