Wild moment Senator Jacqui Lambie goes off-script on The Project in foul-mouthed rant – leaving hosts stunned
Jacqui Lambie unleashed an angry tirade after he was asked a question on The Project about the proposed new AFL stadium to be built in Hobart.
The firebrand senator appeared on the program on Monday night to discuss the controversial project intended for Tasmania’s new AFL team.
An independent report released by the state government last weekend found the new 23,000-capacity venue in Hobart will cost more than $1 billion to build.
Economist Nicholas Gruen’s report also highlighted major concerns about costs, mismanagement and exaggerated economic benefits.
Tasmania’s two main parties have yet to back the project, which must be approved by both houses of Parliament later this year to go ahead.
Hours after labeling the proposed stadium a “real dud” and urging the state government to tell the AFL to “hold it,” Senator Lambie doubled down on The Project, where she branded the project “an absolute disgrace ‘ and a ‘bloody crime’. disaster’.
She became excited after comedian Sam Taunton sparked the debate by pointing out that the AFL usually gets what they want.
The mention of Hobart’s proposed AFL stadium fired up Jacqui Lambie on Monday night
“If Tasmania gets a team and a new stadium is built…” Taunton asked before the senator quickly intervened.
“Mate, honestly, I have to be honest with you. “I don’t care how powerful they are,” she said.
“You’re talking to Jacqui Lambie here and I don’t care!”
The expletive prompted laughter from panellists as the senator sent a scathing message to the AFL.
‘I don’t care! My job is to achieve what is best for the nation and what is best for the country. That’s my job, so I don’t care!’ she smoked.
“Go put on your big shirts and bring Jacqui Lambie!”
Taunton interrupted: ‘Jacqui, I’m not going to build the stadium! It’s not me. I want you to know that!’
An angry Senator Lambie was keen to put Taunton in his place.
“That’s right, make sure I sit at the table with that Big Boy!” she said.
Taunton joked, “Thanks for calling me Big Boy!”
The senator replied, “Calm down. Put the ego back in the paper bag!’
The senator’s foul-mouthed tirade stunned The Project’s Georgie Tunny and Sarah Harris
Panellist Georgie Tunny added: ‘It’s too much to contain Jacqui! It’s too much!’
Host Sarah Harris weighed in as she wrapped up the segment.
“Jacqui, you made Sam’s night and his life!” she said.
Senator Lambie replied: ‘He wouldn’t be the first person I’ve made blush!’
The fiery segment divided viewers.
‘Jacqui Lambie was too much histrionic. Well done Sam Taunton for asking the right questions,” one person wrote.
Another added: Omg! She’s so embarrassing
But others praised the senator and called for her to become the next prime minister.
“I fucking love that woman,” wrote another.
Comedian Sam Taunton (photo) was put in his place by the inflammatory senator
The report found that the cost of the Macquarie Point stadium would increase by $321 million and had been ‘significantly undervalued’, while the cost-benefit ratio had been ‘significantly overestimated’ at 44 cents per dollar invested.
“Tasmania deserves an AFL team and should have it at the right price, but not at any price,” Mr Gruen said in the report.
“Tasmania is not a wealthy state and faces substantial social and economic challenges.”
Mr Gruen noted that the project already showed the “hallmarks of mismanagement” and said a promise by the state government to implement the project without borrowing more than $375 million “cannot be kept”.
Construction of the 23,000-seat waterfront stadium is a condition of Tasmania’s entry into the AFL, with the Tasmanian Devils due to enter the competition in 2028.