Tammy Tyrrell, 55, elected in 2022 under the Jacqui Lambie Network before going independent in March 2024, defected to Labor on Thursday.
The switch raises Labor’s Senate seats to 30 out of 76, giving the left bloc a majority of 40 when combined with the Greens.
Tyrrell, from a working-class background as a farmhand and employment adviser, said she regularly backed Labor votes and wants a stronger voice for Tasmania, calling it a good fit. Albanese praised her as a regional advocate after courting her for two years.