Senator Jacqui Lambie has confirmed she will undergo spinal surgery in the coming weeks, and will be unable to attend parliament for the rest of the year.
Since August, her condition has “deteriorated”, according to a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
Senator Jacqui Lambie has confirmed she will undergo spinal surgery in the coming weeks. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
“Senator Lambie’s doctors have ordered bed rest and minimal movement until the operation,” the statement read.
“Therefore, she will not be present in parliament for the final sitting weeks of the year.”
The senator’s parliamentary advisory team will remain in Canberra for the sitting weeks in her absence.
The news comes after the Senator said in a sit down with NewsWire earlier in April that back injuries sustined during her army training continue to cause her grief.
The injuries require continued treatment, including twice-weekly chiropractic sessions, and near weekly massages, she said at the time.
The pain is constant and exacerbated by sedentary periods confined in a seat, car or plane.
With the knowledge that she’ll be 60 once her next Senate term expires, Senator Lambie, currently 54, said the decision to exit stage left was “quite easy”.
However, before she bows out, she wants to ensure the government adopts and implements the 122 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, plus creating a climate army for teenagers and young people in order to incentivise the younger generation to volunteer.
“It’s those things closest to the heart. I’d really like to see the recommendations (from the Royal Commission) put through in my first half,” she said.
“I think with me driving that (in parliament), we can accomplish that, no doubt.”
Combined with her 11 years in uniform, her publicised fight with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and what could be 16 years in parliament, she says that would be “enough service to country”.
