A comic opera is being played out in Australian politics and it has wide ranging consequences to the Australian government. The PUP (Palmer United Party) is a fringe political organisation which has managed to gain senate seats and affect the balance of power but one PUP senator has taken on a personal crucade and caused a huge dog fight with party leadership

Jacqui Lambie denies Clive Palmer claim she 'infiltrated' Palmer United Party with plan to 'blow it up' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Jacqui Lambie, a senator from Tasmania (for our cross the water friends read Alaska in political and geographical importance) has been accused of disloyalty, fraud, of falsely claiming an aboriginal heritage, of just being a mouthpiece, and now esponage because she has taken a stand on military pay against the party preference. Last week Lambie helped to disallow regulations passed months ago regulating financial advisers and is set to disrupt government legislation on budget matters. The tail is truly wagging the dog. Her electorate is urging her to leave the party and become independent, the consequence of which is to consign newly elected king maker billionaire Clive Palmer to the political boondocks, and play havoc with Jacqui's wardrobe.

This comic opera plays out daily to the delight of the Australian media as Palmer and Lambie hurl insults and the question remains why doesn't she resign from the party? In a bizzaire twist apparently it might be up to an influential poppy grower

Liberals urge Lambie to stay with PUP
Lambie seeks advice from mentors on PUP future
Jacqui Lambie demoted by Palmer United Party
Lambie splits from PUP to vote against social services bill
Jacqui Lambie's chief of staff vows to stay on
Jacqui Lambie criticises Clive Palmer's leadership style, policies

What is it with these women from far away places, I'm sure we would all like an answer to that question

Local politics.

The real questions is whose clowns are the funniest, OURS, or YOURS? What you Aussies lack in size and history, you certainly make up with enthusiasm! If you were a bit more creative you could take the cake.

Did you say PUP, and mean POOP?

Hi Tal yes the name is unfortunate but the electoral commission wouldn't let them register as the United Party, they tend to stop small parties using certain names and yes there is a great deal of POOP associated with their actions, true prima donnas and an indication of what money truly buys in politics

Hi Karma, I posted this as a bit of comic relief to demonstrate that political WACKOO'S aren't confined to north america and yes it is local issue but we respond to many "local" political issues here, the game over there isn't the only game being played out

At last a decision and we move on to a new political climate once again, one in which the government will have to negotiate, which is something they hate to do

Jacqui Lambie quits the Palmer United Party | Western Advocate

But there are lessons here don't count your pups. Clive Plamer has had two recent defections from his sphere of influence and that means he cannot guarantee to the government that legislation will pass, is any of this familiar to anyone? It happens the world over

Quote:

---

fraud, of falsely claiming an aboriginal heritage

---

sounds like Elizabeth Warren .

Sounds like a lot of people, we get this here particularly the indigenous part, A few years ago an indigenous person was a person who identified as an indigenous person but the rules have changed and they have to be able to show a connection with the community; family group, tribe or what ever. I don't know if Jacqui can do that, the last full blood died a hundred years ago in Tasmania, but she has the complexion and the demenier for it, the indigenous tend to be an argumentative, scrapping lot, always fighting something

Quote:

---

but she has the complexion and the demenier for it,

---

Warren is blond hair ;blue eyed . But she is argumentative .

Clive says to Jacqui 'thank you for being a friend'.
Clive Palmer's #saythanks video for Jacqui Lambie - YouTube

Clive cannot be trusted, he is a snake oil salesman, I cannot understand his motivation now, he has succeeded in getting rid of the Mining Tax which would have been a problem for his asset base. He is irrelevant in the House of Representatives and rarely turns up except to lunch other polies. He now has two Senators in his pocket so he is approaching the threshold of irrelevance in the Senate.

We have to tolerate small parties in our system but they blurr the issues and capture a protest vote