Senator Bernardi quit the Liberal Party in February deciding instead to go it alone by launching his own Australian Conservatives party, and on Wednesday he announced it would be amalgamated with Family First.
"The joining of our respective political forces is a natural fit and it is one that will strengthen the conservative movement across this country," the senator said.
Family First’s two South Australian MPs, Dennis Hood and Robert Brokenshire, will soon become Australian Conservatives and represent the party at a state level.
But newly elected Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi, who will officially be sworn into the upper house on May 9th, will not be joining the new party and will instead sit on the crossbench as an independent.
"We got our head around it quickly but it is much more difficult for those who are new to the political environment," Senator Bernardi said.
"We wish Lucy well on her career."
Watch: Cory Bernardi joins forces with Family First MPs
Senator-elect Lucy Gichuhi released a statement on Wednesday and said while she was aware of the merger, she had "not been able to determine" if joining was the right way to represent South Australia.
“It is on that basis that I have decided to serve as an independent Senator for the time being," she said.
“I look forward to a positive working relationship with the Government, Opposition and crossbenchers.”
The founder of Family First, Andrew Evans, told the ABC he was “pretty happy” the political movement he created is merging with the Australian Conservatives.
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"I've talked to Cory and we've walked very carefully through it and we're all very excited about the future," Mr Evans said.
The former church pastor became his party's first elected member in 2002 when he won a seat in the South Australian Legislative Council.
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Mr Evans said he'd told Ms Gichuhi she would have a greater chance at a long term future in the Senate as part of an amalgamated party than as an independent.
Gichuhi, will fill the upper house vacancy created by the departure of the party's former senator Bob Day but Mr Evans said she planned to go it alone.
"We'd love to have her on board. I don't know why she doesn't want to come with us," he Evans said.
Mr Evans said the two right leaning parties decided to unite because it was "crazy to divide all the time".
"We felt let's ... unite and have an impact and let them know our values and see if we can have some impact across the nation," he said.
Bernardi set up his own conservative movement earlier this year after walking away from the Liberal Party and will remain as the sole federal voice of the party.
Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has described the merger, which is expected to be announced in Adelaide on Wednesday, as a "natural fit".
He said the "writing was on the wall" for Family First as soon as Mr Day, who was a major financial backer of the party, exited parliament.
Watch: Dutton says merger a 'natural fit'
-With AAP
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