Jacqui Lambie gets on with push for Defence pay rise JACQUI Lambie has begun negotiating with the government to wind back the Renewable Energy Target and cut funding for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation if it offers some increase in Defence pay. Within hours of cutting ties with the Palmer United Party, Senator Lambie held talks with Environment Minister Greg Hunt about backing government bills in return for doubling the Defence pay rise to 3 per cent. Senator Lambie's willingness to talk - despite vowing to oppose all bills until Defence pay was increased - has given the government hope it could benefit from the collapse of Clive Palmer's influence in the Senate. PROFILE: Lambie accused of supporting Defence Veterans Party PAY RISE: Minister says Defence personnel not worse off PUP LEADER: Lambie "thinks she's bigger than Oz" But her decision to split with PUP will make it harder for the government to pass remaining Budget bills that she opposes including the GP co-payment, university fee deregulation and welfare cuts. Ditching her trademark PUP-yellow scarf for a pink one, Senator Lambie said she was seeking a better deal for her state. "Being a member of Palmer United has prevented me from voting in this chamber in a way that gives my Tasmania the best chance of recovering and once again becoming prosperous," she said. I actually feel like there's been a great big weight lifted off my shoulders, to be honest. Her decision means PUP only has two guaranteed votes in the Senate and can no longer veto legislation opposed by Labor and the Greens. A furious Mr Palmer mocked his former Senator and left open the option of pursuing her for "hundreds of thousands" of dollars spent on her election campaign. "Being in parliament should be about public service, not serving ourselves or gaining notoriety," Mr Palmer told 4BC radio. Senator Jacqui Lambie speaking at a press conference at Parliament House yesterday. Jacqui said that her main interest is in a guy with a big package and a lot of money. Senator Lambie refused to respond to Mr Palmer's attacks, including allegations that she misused disability pension payments and was a "sleeper agent" for the major parties. She said she would smile and say hello if she passed her former boss in the corridor. "I will not be drawn into the game of responding to hurtful and false personal attacks," she said. I wish Clive and his beautiful family, staff and friends all the best. The newly independent Senator held out the possibility of deals with the government if it overruled the proposed 1.5 per cent Defence pay rise. Senator Lambie sought a meeting with Tony Abbott about Defence pay after Mr Hunt urged her to talk to the Prime Minister. Mr Abbott's office said it had received a request for a meeting with Senator Lambie but also insisted it could not pay Defence personnel more until the Budget was "under control." Clive Palmer has left open the option of pursuing Jacqui Lambie for "hundreds of thousands" of dollars spent on her election campaign. During her meeting with Mr Hunt, Senator Lambie discussed a possible deal to change legislation to allow a test of using bumble bees in greenhouses in Tasmania. She also voted with the government in support of an inquiry into wind farms that was proposed by Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm. Her vote drew a rebuke from her former colleague, Queensland PUP Senator Glenn Lazarus, who said she had "back flipped on her promise to support the ADF pay issue by voting with the government on wind turbines." The blow to Mr Palmer's power came as West Australian police confirmed their Major Fraud Squad was investigating allegations from Chinese company Citic that he misused $12.1 million of its money for his election campaign. Mr Palmer, who has denied any wrongdoing, dismissed reports of the police investigation as a "beat up." Originally published as Lambie gets on with push for pay rise