Sometimes even the most perfect of matches simply just don’t work out. Despite never once showing any signs of a bump in the road, and being totally, absolutely, besottedly made for each other, two people can simply – for one reason or another – just grow apart from each other. And when that happens, sadly, the right thing to do is break up.
Jacqui Lambie and the Palmer United Party should go together like Sonny and Cher; like honey and bees; like cheese and additional cheese. And yet, there’s trouble brewing in paradise, with the party today announcing that Lambie has been demoted in the party hierarchy for failing to attend several party meetings.
Meanwhile on the other side of the coin, Lambie has removed all instances of the PUP logo from her website, and earlier today arrived at Parliament House without a shred of her customary yellow attire – the Palmer Party’s signifying colour.
The dust up has a lot to do with the fact that Lambie has been loudly outspoken towards party leader Clive Palmer as of late, and is incensed at what she perceives to back a lack of sufficient action on issues dear to her, such as increased and improved pay structures for Australian Defence Force personnel.
“Clive Palmer can no longer sit on the fence, he’s either standing by me or he’s standing near the Liberal National Party but I’m not going to stand around and watch Clive Palmer back flipping,” she told the ABC’s 7:30 Report.
In response, Palmer issued a statement that read in-part, “I am amazed why Jacqui Lambie is being such a drama queen when the Palmer United Party unanimously supports the ADF and opposes the government’s proposed pay structure.“
The resulting stalemate has seen Lambie deliberately avoid several party meetings, leading to the announcement today that she has been removed from her position as deputy leader of the Senate and deputy whip. The move has lead to rampant speculation that Lambie might be about to walk out on the Palmer Party and serve the rest of her senatorial term as an Independent.
So unless some miraculous back-peddling, talking about feelings, maybe a comforting hug to seal the deal happens, expect one side to play the same 15-second preview clip of “Goodbye My Lover” on repeat for a day, Michael Scott-style, and the other to march out of there to embrace her inner independent womanhood all like:
Right on, soul sister. Right on.
Photo: Stefan Postles via Getty Images.
