Who is Tammy Tyrrell, the former Jacqui Lambie senator who just defected to Labor?

Addition of Tasmanian crossbencher means Labor has gained a seat in the Australian senate – but still doesn’t have a majority

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Former Jacqui Lambie ally Tammy Tyrrell has defected to the Labor Party, becoming the latest party-hopping senator to be lured by Anthony Albanese’s government.

Tyrrell, the Tasmanian senator who had a falling-out with Lambie in 2024, has sat as an independent for more than two years. But on Thursday, in an unexpected move during budget week, the prime minister announced she would be admitted to the Labor Party and would serve out the rest of her term as a government member.