Jacqui Lambie going independent a fresh worry for Australian leader

Highly unpopular Prime Minister Tony Abbott faces further complications in passing legislation after Senator Jacqui Lambie quit mining magnate Clive Palmer's political party, seriously weakening a crucial upper-house voting bloc.

Lambie, who began her six-year term representing Tasmania state in July, told parliament yesterday she was resigning from the Palmer United Party (PUP) to become an independent, effective immediately.

"I must be free to vote in this senate in the best interests of Tasmanians," Lambie said. Her resignation would end "damaging speculation and uncertainty", she said.

Palmer's bloc has been the key for the Abbott government, which lacks a majority in the upper house and is forced to negotiate with minor parties and independents to pass laws.

Lambie's decision will make that negotiating process harder. Last week she broke ranks with the PUP by voting against changes to financial-advice laws.

Last week, Palmer suspended Lambie from attending party meetings and removed her as his deputy senate leader, in a spat that saw her remove PUP logos from her website.