Anthony Albanese has warmly welcomed Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell into the Labor Party, describing her as 'warm, genuinely funny and compassionate'. Tyrrell, who previously served as a senator for the Jacqui Lambie Network before sitting as an independent for over two years, announced her defection to the government during budget week.
Background of the Defection
Tyrrell originally joined the Jacqui Lambie Network as a staffer and won the Senate seat previously held by former Liberal senator Eric Abetz in 2022. She resigned from the party in 2024, citing Lambie's dissatisfaction with her, and has since sat as an independent. Her move to Labor increases the government's Senate numbers from 29 to 30, though it still falls short of an overall majority.
Reasons for Joining Labor
Speaking at a press conference with the prime minister, Tyrrell stated, 'I want to have a seat at the table where I can make some change. I'm not going to apologise to anybody for joining Labor. It's a good fit. I've supported Labor very regularly over the last four years. But I've also pushed back when things are important, and I will still do that but respectfully and calmly through caucus.' She expressed pride in being a 'Labor girl' and indicated her intention to run for re-election under the Labor banner at the next election.
Shift on Social Media Ban
Tyrrell downplayed her previous opposition to Labor's signature policy to ban social media for children. In 2024, she had claimed the idea 'isn't worth the paper it's written on' and criticised it as 'poorly thought-out'. However, on Thursday, she conceded she had not agreed with the ban in the past but considered her party move 'a fresh start'. She added, 'The social media ban is one of those things I believe that children should have an education, so that they are safer, be it driving a car, learning to swim. There are times when I have not agreed in the past but this is a fresh start.'
Impact on Senate Dynamics
Despite Tyrrell's defection, the Labor government still requires support from the Greens, Coalition, or crossbench to pass legislation. The move slightly eases an unlikely path where the government secures support from the entire Senate crossbench, which includes diverse figures such as David Pocock, Ralph Babet, Lambie, former Labor senator Fatima Payman, Lidia Thorpe, and four One Nation members.
Albanese's Praise
At the press conference, Albanese commended Tyrrell as an advocate for cost-of-living pressures facing Tasmanians and someone who has spent her life helping others. 'People across Tasmania know her as a fighter,' 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.'
Broader Political Context
Tyrrell is the second senator to join Labor this term, following former Greens senator Dorinda Cox, who announced her move in June 2025 after the federal election. Labor now has four senators in Tasmania, with Tyrrell and colleagues Helen Polley and Josh Dolega up for re-election in 2028. Polley recently faced scrutiny after posting and deleting a social media video that mistakenly included explicit rap audio over Anzac Day commemorations.
