On Blowing Things Up
Known as one of the most fierce and outspoken politicians in the country, Jacqui Lambie does not hold back. Not with her opinion, her work ethic, or her convictions. And she’s done the unthinkable, for a politician, she’s changed her mind and admitted to it.
Rising to public office with the Palmer United Party in 2013, she quickly struck out on her own in 2014 as an independent for Tasmania in the Senate. Lambie, an Aboriginal Tasmanian who served in the Australian Army, has fought hard for welfare recipients, veterans and families affected by ice addiction, speaking compellingly on these issues from personal experience.
Senator Lambie is anything but predictable and has come dangerously close many times to bursting the Canberra bubble. Expect candid frankness on Australia’s socio-political landscape and where Lambie sees us heading in this opening address for FODI 2022.
Senator Lambie has not received a fee for her appearance. A donation has been made on her behalf to a nominated charity.
Jacqui Lambie
Jacqui Lambie was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania. She served 10 years in the Australian Army before injury saw her medically discharged. Jacqui spent 10 years fighting the Department of Veterans’ Affairs after the DVA cancelled her military pension. After this experience she decided to go into politics and in 2013 was elected as a Senator for Tasmania at the federal election representing the Palmer United Party. Her term began in July 2014. In November 2014, Jacqui resigned from the Palmer United Party to sit in the Senate as an independent. She was re-elected to the Senate in 2016. On 14th November 2017 she resigned from the Senate after it was confirmed she was a dual national by descent. In 2019 Jacqui made her comeback and was elected to the senate for Tasmania. She is the mother of two boys.
Simon Longstaff
Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Adjunct Professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
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