Nationals Senator Steve Martin has defended spending at least $531,000 to refurbish a new electorate office, after he quit the Jacqui Lambie Network and relocated cities.
According to the ABC, Senator Martin chose to set up his parliamentary office in Devonport, declining to take over former Senator Jacqui Lambie's office in Burnie.
Senator Martin won the Tasmanian Senate seat in February after Ms Lambie resigned. He later fell out with Ms Lambie and joined the Nationals in May.
The senator told the ABC he moved to Devonport to ensure "efficiency" and "practicality".
Former Senator Jacqui Lambie. Source: AAP
"I am better off to access the whole of the state from Devonport rather than a 40-minute drive there and a 40-minute drive back just to go to the office," he said.
"This is an investment of over $500,000 of federal money coming into the state, employing local tradesmen and local businesses."
The cost of the refurbishment was confirmed at a Senate estimates hearing in November.
Estimates also heard Senator Martin paid $46,800 to rent a temporary office in Devonport, along with a further $3500 spent on IT, and to transfer furniture and equipment.
Labor MP for Braddon Justine Keay slammed the move, telling the ABC it was an "unacceptable" use of taxpayer money.
Nationals Senator Steve Martin speaks in the Senate chamber. Source: AAP
"A 40-minute drive is no excuse for spending that amount. I was offered to move offices but chose not to because of costs," she said.
In May, Ms Lambie savaged Senator Martin's decision to join the Nationals, calling it a "marriage of convenience for two increasingly desperate parties".
She also described her former team member the "country's loneliest senator".
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