Glenn Lazarus Team: Former Palmer United Party senator to form own political party

Former Palmer United Party (PUP) Queensland senator Glenn Lazarus has applied to the Australian Electoral Commission to form his own political party.

Mr Lazarus, who quit PUP in March following the sacking of his wife Tess Lazarus from the party, this morning announced he had lodged paperwork to establish the Glenn Lazarus Team.

His former party boss Clive Palmer hit back this afternoon, saying Mr Lazarus was only starting the party to secure an income for his wife.

Mr Lazarus has already launched a website and a logo, which takes on the shape of a football, harking back to his previous career as a rugby league player.

He has previously announced plans to serve out his six-year term as an independent.

"I am determined to represent the people of Queensland to the best of my ability and it is essential that I build a strong team around me to do this," Senator Lazarus said in a statement on his Facebook page.

"I have worked with some excellent high performing teams for most of my life.

"I feel I understand what it takes to build and maintain a strong team and I now have the scope and capability to do this."

Mr Lazarus said his party would "focus on the needs of the people of Queensland".

"Queensland desperately needs help to address high unemployment, crippling drought and the need for economic growth," he said.

"Queensland also needs better energy solutions which are cleaner, cheaper, more reliable and locally based.

"My Glenn Lazarus Team will support me in providing Queensland with the best representation possible."

In a written statement, Mr Palmer said Mr Lazarus had no idea about teamwork.

"Glenn Lazarus does not know what it is like to be on a proper team," Mr Palmer said.

"He deserted the Palmer United Party, betraying all those who voted for our party and our many members who worked so hard to get their representative elected in Queensland.

"Glenn Lazarus will be [a] solitary figure who plays solitaire in his office all day long."

Mr Palmer said Mr Lazarus received only 6,000 votes at the last election while the PUP received in excess of 250,000.

"He then deserts the team and the constituents who voted for it when it got too hot on the field," Mr Palmer said.

"He chose self-interests and now chooses to have his own party using public funding."

Mr Palmer previously announced he would sue both Mr Lazarus and Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie to recoup $9 million the PUP spent on their election campaigns.

Ms Lambie, who also quit the PUP, has already announced plans to form her own political party, the Jacqui Lambie Network.

Mr Palmer took a shot at his former senator on Twitter this morning, saying Mr Lazarus did not know what it was like to be part of a proper team.