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.

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"As a senator for Tasmania, I want to have a seat at the table where I can make the most change and bring back the good stuff to Tasmania," Tyrrell said during a press conference in Canberra.

"I'm not going to apologise to anybody for joining Labor."

When asked if her decision would come as a disappointment to her voters, Tyrrell said she refused to be "judged" by the media for flip-flopping on what party she represents.

She served as a senator in the Jacqui Lambie Network from 2022 until 2024, before resigning to sit as an independent.

Tyrrell said she had been courted by members of Labor for the past two years and added that while has regularly supported the party, she will still "push back" when necessary for her Tasmanian constituents.

"I will still do that but I will do it respectfully and calmly within caucus," she added.

"I'm very proud to be a Labor girl."

Albanese described his party's newest member as a senator who "never gives up on people".

"People across Tasmania know her as a fighter," the PM said.

"She is someone who doesn't mince her words, she stands up for people, and now she will bring that advocacy into the Labor party as a member of the Labor caucus."

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