Palmer United Party (PUP) senator Jacqui Lambie has split from her party to vote against the Federal Government’s revised social services bill.

Labor and a number of crossbenchers, including PUP senators Dio Wang and Glenn Lazarus, helped the Government pass the changes, which include cuts to family benefits.

The Coalition secured support after dumping a number of contentious proposals, such as increasing the pension age to 70.

• Lambie considers leaving PUP

Senator Lambie voted against the revised legislation due to the effect on Tasmanian families and in line with her threat to oppose all Government bills to protest over the pay deal for Defence personnel.

“I won’t support this cruel legislation,” Senator Lambie said.

“There is another reason why I chose to vote against this legislation, and that is on a protest and on a matter of conscience or principle.

“I will vote against all Government legislation until the men and women of our Army, Navy, RAAF receive a fair pay rise and their Christmas entitlement leave back.”

Senator Lambie, who was one of 11 senators to oppose the bill, accused the Government of trying to bully the Upper House and lying about budget cuts.

The senator became emotional during her speech when speaking about the defence force pay deal, which she described as “unfair, unjust and an appalling insult”.
“Matter of fact it’s just absolute rubbish,” Senator Lambie said.

“How you people over there can do that to these men and women who put their lives on the line is beyond me.

“Do you have any idea what consequences it’s going to have on our national security and the morale of these men and women?”