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Australian Motoring Enthusiast senator Ricky Muir has been driving on a bumpy road, losing three staff members, including his most senior aide, in his first month in Parliament.
He has also had to contend with accusations Motoring Enthusiast Party founder Keith Littler is trying to take his Senate seat, in a bizarre plot known as "Plan Z".
But Senator Muir is standing firm in his new job and has pledged he will serve his full six years as Senator, possibly more.
"I have all intention of sticking around for the whole six years. Who knows? Maybe another 12 or 18," he told Fairfax Media.
Senator Muir said he was in the "process of rebuilding" his office and was "comfortable" with how things were progressing.
He has recently promoted adviser Sarah Mennie to the top chief of staff role.
Ms Mennie has a background in journalism and has previously worked for independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon. She replaces "preference whisperer" Glenn Druery who was spectacularly sacked by Senator Muir late last month and escorted out of Parliament House.
Mr Druery's sacking was soon followed by that of adviser Peter Breen.
Senator Muir claimed that Mr Breen had taken a sickie, while Mr Breen said he had been having a skin cancer operated on.
During the upheaval, office administrator Susan Bloodworth, who worked in the Melbourne office, also quit in protest.
Senator Muir has been using the parliamentary break to rebuild his office. Along with Ms Mennie he has also appointed a new staff member for admin. He is still looking for a replacement for Mr Breen and Mr Littler continues to work for the Senator.
Despite reports Mr Littler is after his job, Senator Muir told 2UE Radio on Thursday that he was "happy" to have Mr Littler on his staff and was "working well with him".
Senator Muir had a meeting with Treasurer Joe Hockey last week about the budget and has also had briefings from other lobbyists and MPs over the Parliamentary break.
The Motoring Enthusiast Senator said he would not come out with a final position on the $7 GP fee just yet. But he said he had concerns about the government's move to make people under 30 wait six months for unemployment payments.
