National

'Seat at the table': independent senator joins Labor

May 14, 2026

ANTHONY ALBANESE TAMMY TYRRELL — Independent Senator Tammy Tyrrell has announced she's joining Labor to be part of the government. -AAP Image

Labor's ranks will grow further in the Senate after an independent announced she would join the government in the upper house.

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Former Jacqui Lambie Network senator Tammy Tyrrell will sit on the government benches, saying she would contribute more to her state of Tasmania within Labor.

"I want to have a seat at the table where I can make the most change and bring back good stuff to Tasmania," she told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

"I'm not going to apologise to anybody for joining Labor. It's a good fit. I have supported Labor very regularly over the last four years."

The decision means Labor will now have 30 seats out of 76 in the Senate.

The government will still need the support of the coalition or the Greens in order to get the 39 votes required to pass legislation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Senator Tyrrell would be a strong member of the caucus.

"She's someone who's warm, genuinely funny and compassionate. She also never gives up on people," he said.

"She stands up for people, and now she will bring that advocacy into the Labor Party as a member of the Labor caucus, and will be able to sit and participate as a member of the government to be more effective in getting things done."

After previously serving as a staffer to Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie from 2014, Senator Tyrrell ran as a candidate for the Jacqui Lambie Network at the 2022 election, winning the final slot for the state over long-serving Liberal Eric Abetz.

Her time with her old employer's party did not last long, announcing in 2024 she would leave to sit as an independent.

Senator Tyrrell left after being told by Senator Lambie she was not happy with how she was representing the party, but insisted she was not kicked out.

The Tasmanian senator admitted there would be some voters who would be disgruntled about the move from the crossbench to a major party.

"There are people who are not going to like what I've done. But the people who elected me are always going to get value for money, respect and the best out of me and the government," she said.

"The people of Tasmania need strong voices who are not afraid to admit when things need to be changed. They need to have people in the parliament that are willing to modify, change, co-operate and collaborate."

It is the second time this term a senator from outside Labor has joined government ranks, after former Green Dorinda Cox announced after the 2025 election she would shift allegiances.