Tammy Tyrrell joins Labor - betrayal or bold move for Tasmania?

Picture from Senator Tammy Tyrrell Facebook page.

I want to make this clear from the outset: I had no prior knowledge of Senator Tyrrell's decision to join the Labor Party prior to the Prime Minister’s presser today. I haven’t spoken to any of my former colleagues about it prior to the announcement, nor have I kept up with the day to day runnings of her office since I left in July last year. I am not a spokesperson for Senator Tyrrell. This piece is purely my thoughts as someone who both worked closely with Tammy for six years and as someone who has first-hand experience working on the crossbench in Parliament. 

To the everyday Australian, which political party someone belongs to has become something of a party game. They see people get elected under one banner, then switch to another, and brand them a traitor. And I can understand why. But as someone who worked to get Tammy Tyrrell elected in 2022 and has seen the political wheels of parliament in action, I can guarantee you it’s not that simple. 

Senate is a numbers game

The Senate boils down to being a numbers game. The government of the day has to have a majority of the numbers (39) to pass legislation. And if they don’t? Then the bartering begins. 

The public hates it when ‘deals’ are done over bills. But the reality is, if the government needs to get people on board to get it over the line, deals have to be done. 

When Tammy Tyrrell entered the Senate in 2022, she was in the ‘balance of power’. There were 26 Labor Senators, 10 Green Senators and 8 independents/minor parties. For most of that parliament, Labor needed 3 independent votes to get every single piece of legislation across the line. 

It meant independents were able to bring back the goods for their state. An example is when Tammy secured the GST exemption on the $240m Macquarie Point stadium money in exchange for her vote on a procedure motion (not a bill itself). 

That’s why Tammy always said being an independent was better for Tasmania than being in a party. She could deliver more for Tassie that way. 

Except when elections happen, numbers change. And right now, Labor only needs the Greens to pass legislation in the Senate. 

Meaning the independents no longer have the power. 

So when Tammy said today: "The information in front of you, every single day in this place, changes — and the parliament has changed in my four years here as a senator,” I got it. 

When she entered Parliament, she was in a position to do deals in exchange for what Tassie needed. That’s no longer the case. 

By joining the current Government, this allows her to go directly to those who hold the purse-strings and push for changes that Tassie needs. 

Now I'm not advocating that every Senator should change parties every time the numbers in the Senate change. But it seems to have played a major part in this decision and for Tasmanians? It kind of makes sense.

Chameleon politicians or shared values?

Voters see politicians changing parties a bit like chameleons changing their skin; always blending in, never truly showing themselves. 

But when it comes to politicans - whether it’s major parties, minor parties or independents, when you head to the ballot box, you’re voting based on values. 

Liberals have traditionally been known as the party for business, good economic policy and conservative values. 

On the other hand, Labor is known as the party of the workers/unions, social reforms and progressive values.

Let's look at Tammy Tyrrell. When she was elected for the Jacqui Lambie Network in 2022, she valued making sure Tasmania got its fair share, a better healthcare system and better education for all (all things mentioned in her campaign).

Those are still the things she values today. And you can see that in her voting record and the issues she’s chosen to tackle. 

So is it really about the party jacket a politician wears, or is it about their values and the issues they fight for? If the Labor Party values align with the values Tammy had as a member of the Jacqui Lambie Network or as an independent, is this really such a betrayal?

Why shackle yourself to a golden cage?

There is one elephant in the room: there’s now no room for pushback - at least publicly, anyway. 

Labor famously doesn’t allow members to cross the floor on votes. If they do, they’re kicked out of the party (see: Fatima Payman). 

Tammy has publicly pushed back on a number of key Labor policies. The under 16 social media ban, the vaping ban and most recently, joined the push for a 25% tax on gas exports. 

These are all views she can no longer express publicly. They have to be raised through the caucus process. Unlike Liberal backbenchers who can stir the pot on their own parties policies in the media, do this with Labor and you’ll find yourself in the headmaster's office. 

This lack of freedom seems like an odd thing to give up. But you have to consider how Tammy’s political career started. 

She was elected under the Jacqui Lambie Network. She put her hand up to join a party, and expected to remain as part of that party for her political career. She was there to be a team player, support her leader and do the best that she could for the Tassie communities she loved. 

Then the split happened. When your leader says maybe you should ‘go it alone’ and the party board tells you you’re not doing a good job representing the party, what else was she supposed to do?

But suddenly, the Senator who signed up to be part of a party was on her own. Leader of a party of one.

The thing people don’t see is the personal toll being an independent has on someone. Especially when you’re in the balance of power. 

When you’re the single vote that decides whether a piece of legislation passes or not. That's a huge weight on you. 

Every single vote is cast with caution, with trepidation. And every single time you vote, you’re letting someone down. There’s always people on both sides of the argument. And no matter what way you go, there will always be voters on the other side ready to call you out, call you names and tell you to resign. 

That’s a lot for any single person to handle. But it’s the reality of every independent sitting in the Parliament (and state parliaments too). They have staff to help shoulder the burden. But the staff's name isn’t on the vote. 

You might say, ‘well party members have their individual names all attached to a vote as well’. And sure, that’s correct. But if it’s a particularly contentious vote, they can hide behind the party. ‘This was a party decision’, ‘the need for party unity on this issue’, blah blah.

Independents have to front up to their decisions. And I’m not saying they shouldn’t; all pollies should. But a single person copping waves of abuse for a single vote - let alone hundreds of votes over time - is enough to keep anyone up at night. 

Based on all this: is it any wonder that an independent would join a major party?

The lack of freedom to cross the floor though does mean that at the end of the day, party decisions need to rule above all else. We know lots of Labor backbenchers disagree with a lot of policies; there are leaks in the media all the time. But if it came down to choosing between your state or your party, there's only one option ahead of you.

That's a moral dilemma Tammy will need to contend with and will need to be upfront with voters about.

Election chances 

Tammy Tyrrell’s due for election in 2028. As an independent, she would’ve had a fierce battle with One Nation contender Lee Hanson to keep her seat. With One Nation’s rising popularity in recent elections, I suspect this is a battle Tammy would have lost. 

With this in mind, joining a party gives Tammy not only stability and instant votes from rusted-on Labor supporters, but it also gives her money. Money is key to any election, especially for low-profile independents trying to compete against major parties and their millions of dollars in donations. 

Last year Labor and the Liberals teamed up to pass reforms around elections and how money can be spent. These laws heavily favour major parties through secretive loopholes, and will make it tough for independents to compete. This is something Tammy will no longer have to worry about, with party backing to give her a secure run. 

Other Tasmanian Labor Senators up for re-election in 2028 include Senator Helen Polley and newcomer Senator Josh Dolega (who filled the vacancy left by Senator Anne Urquhart). If Senator Polley were to retire or not run again at the 2028 election, Tammy could find herself at the top of Labor’s Tasmanian ticket, which is a guaranteed path to a second Senate term. 

So.... what now?

Just like anyone who worked who put their heart and soul into a major project for years, there’s a part of me that is a little disappointed. I spent a lot of time building up Tammy’s profile and brand as an independent Senator. All that work is irrelevant now. 

Do I agree with the decision? It doesn’t matter if I do or not. The decision isn’t mine and I don’t know the context in the lead-up to this decision.

But I worked with Tammy Tyrrell for six years, including three years as one of her most senior advisors. And I know that she takes her job very seriously. She really gives a damn about Tasmania and the people in it. Every single decision she makes weighs on her and she hopes it’s the right one - not for herself, but for the people she represents. 

Tammy Tyrrell has made the decision to join the Labor Party. And I know that choice wouldn’t have been made unless she truly thought it was in the best interests of Tasmania. 

Whether voters agree or not…. well, we’ll find out at the next federal election.