The Family First Party will reportedly join forces with the Australian Conservatives in a political merger that will deliver membership and financial benefits.

South Australian senator Cory Bernardi established the Australian Conservatives after defecting from the Liberal Party in February.

South Australian Family First members would be renamed as Australian Conservatives, according to The Australian.

But SA’s Family First senator-elect Lucy Gichuhi may sit as an independent, according to the reports.

Ms Gichuhi, a Kenyan-born lawyer, filled the vacancy created after former senator for the party Bob Day was ruled ineligible to be elected last year.

The High Court ruled earlier this month Mr Day was ineligible after he indirectly benefited from the government’s lease arrangement on his Adelaide electorate office, in breach of section 44 of the constitution.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the exit of Mr Day, who was a major financial backer for the party, meant the writing was on the wall.

“My sense is that it was inevitable,” he told Sky News.

Lucy Gichuhi is likely to sit as an independent.

Mr Dutton could see sense in the merger.

“It will be a natural fit with Cory and with his party that he’s set up,” he said.

Mr Dutton promised the government would continue working with independents and minor parties in the Senate.

“It’s not an easy task, but we’ll work with people regardless of what hat they’re wearing,” he said.

The Australian Electoral Commission approved an application to register the Australian Conservatives as a political party almost a fortnight ago.

Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff Peta Credlin predicted Ms Gichuhi would find it tough to sit as an independent, if that became her course of action, without infrastructure to support her in Parliament.

“The Senate is tough,” Ms Credlin told Sky News.

“You actually have to do the work in the Senate because in the (lower) house, the government’s always got the numbers and in the Senate you have to get up and speak on bills and know your amendments.

“It’s procedurally a lot more challenging.”

-AAP