'Very grateful': Jacqui Lambie emerges victorious in Senate after beating Pauline Hanson's daughter to Tasmanian seat
Senator Jacqui Lambie, 54, has emerged victorious in her battle against One Nation's Lee Hanson after winning the fifth Tasmanian Senate spot.
The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed the win on Tuesday morning along with Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck, who won the sixth and final Tasmanian seat.
Ms Lambie, who will now sit in parliament for another six years, has been elected alongside Carol Brown and Richard Dowling from the Labor party, Claire Chandler from the Liberal Party, and Greens Senator Nick McKim.
'I am very grateful that the Tasmanian people have given me the chance to fight for them for another six years,' Senator Lambie said.
'Representing Tasmania and bringing the voices and concerns of the people to Canberra, is what gets me out of bed in the morning. My focus is on the Tasmanian people, especially those doing it tough.
'Interest rates are coming down and that's good, but for many Tasmanian families it will barely touch the sides. I want to ensure the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide are implemented properly and that they make a real difference to the lives of veterans and their families.'
The Tasmanian Senator was first elected in 2014 as a candidate for the Palmer United Party. However, she resigned that same year to sit as an independent.
She then formed the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) in May 2015, but was forced to stand down from parliament after her British citizenship through her father came to light, and it clashed with eligibility issues.
The colourful politician also served 11 years in the ADF and was medically discharged in 2000 due to a spinal injury.
On her political party website, the 54-year-old said the Department of Veterans' Affairs nearly "broke" her after 10 years of fighting for military pension, and she was forced to live on Centrelink as a single mother due to her struggles.
Senator Lambie has been accused by both Pauline Hanson and her daughter for appearing to be conservative but voting with Labor and the Greens in Canberra.
Lee Hanson previously told Sky News, Tasmanians have definitely "seen" and "recognised" Lambie's alleged controversial political views, and touched on an example involving the state's salmon industry.
'I know that Jacqui and the Greens have been invited to do a tour and to come and understand the salmon industry,' Ms Hanson previosuly said.
'And to my knowledge she's not taken them up on that offer but was happy to vote down and represent or boycott the salmon industry.'
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