The Liberal party suffered a second blow this week, this time by one of its federal MPs, as Julia Banks, the federal Member for Chisholm announced her decision to quit the party and sit through the remainder of her parliamentary term as an independent, effective immediately. In a shock speech at midday on Tuesday, she told Parliament she had to leave the Liberals because of the “dark days” of the leadership spill in August and would decide her future in the new year.
Coming at a time when the Liberal party is still reeling from the disastrous result of Saturday’s Victorian State Elections, that saw the Victorian Liberals lose half of their parliamentary power, this added to the criticism addressed to the party as a whole, regarding its shift from the centre to the right.
Asserting her position as a “centrist,” the MP stresses in her announcement that it is the Liberal Party that has changed.
In her emotional speech Julia Banks expressed, once again, her frustration over the party’s treatment of women and disunity over energy and climate change.
She particularly targeted the party’s “reactionary right wing,” which led the “brutal” coup against former PM Malcolm Turnbull; at the same time, she accuses other MPs for “trading their vote” for selfish reasons.
Despite assuring the government that she will give confidence and supply, her decision to move to the crossbench will definitely pose a problem for Scott Morrison and the Coalition, which is now left with 74 out of 150 seats, confirming its status as a minority government and exposing it to embarrassing defeats on legislation.
Julia Banks’ defection to the crossbench means that the government has lost guaranteed votes for things like suspending standing orders, referrals and legislation.
It is likely that the MP will now trade her support to the government with specific actions on issues and causes she supports, such as the evacuation of Nauru or the establishment of a national integrity commission.
But the Labor might also count on her vote, particularly when it comes to Peter Dutton’s referral to the high court, under section 44 of the constitution concerns, which is now seeming like a very likely scenario.
It is unclear whether the Prime Minister was aware of this announcement, but it certainly cast a shadow over his surplus budget announcement. Scott Morrison told the parliament that he would deliver the federal budget on 2 April, which all but confirmed that the election will be held in May.
As for whether Julia Banks will recontest her seat, she left it open saying that she will wait till the new year, before she makes a decision about her “future career path”.
Should she run as an independent, she might pose a significant threat to the Liberal Party’s ambitions, given that she managed to win the marginal seat of Chisholm from Labor in 2016, with minimal funding and little supporf from the Victorian Liberal Party.
Julia Banks’ full statement reads as follows:
“Following the leadership coup in August I announced my decision that I will not recontest the seat of Chisholm at the next election as a member of the Liberal Party.
“I’ve always put the People before the Party. After being a Labor held seat for 18 years – the people of Chisholm elected me as I promised them that I would be their representative under the leadership of the former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former Deputy Leader and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Both visionary, inspiring leaders of sensible centrist liberal values with integrity, intellect and with significant support from my local community and across Australia, as leaders of our nation.
“The gift of time and reflection has provided some clarity regarding the brutal blow against the leadership. Led by members of the reactionary right wing, the coup was aided by many MPs trading their vote for a leadership change in exchange for their individual promotion, preselection endorsements or silence. Their actions were undeniably for themselves. For their position in the Party. Their power. Their personal ambition. Not for the Australian people who we represent. Not for what people voted for in the 2016 election. Not for stability. And disregarding that teamwork and unity delivers success.
“The aftermath of those dark days in August then acutely laid bare the major parties’ obstructionist and combative actions and internal games. All for political point scoring rather than for timely, practical sensible decisions on matters which Australians care about.
“Equal representation of men and women in this Parliament is an urgent imperative which will create a culture change. There’s the blinkered rejection of quotas and support of the ‘merit myth’ but this is more than a numbers game. Across both major parties the level of regard and respect for women in politics is years behind the business world. There is also a clear need for an independent and whistleblower system as found in many workplaces to enable reporting of misconduct of those in power without fear of reprisal or retribution. Often when good women ‘call out’ or are subjected to bad behaviour – the reprisals, backlash and commentary portrays them as the bad ones; the liar, the troublemaker, emotionally unstable or weak, or someone who should be silenced. To those who say politics is not for the faint hearted and that women have to ‘toughen up’ – I say this: the hallmark characteristics of the Australian woman (and I’ve met thousands of them) be they in my local community, in politics, business, the media and sport – are resilience and a strong authentic independent spirit.
“The voice of the Australian people has been loud and clear. Hundreds from my local community as well as hundreds more from across Australia contacted me with their support and (knowing that my life from humble and hardworking migrant heritage has been in the business real world and not as a career politician ) many pleaded that I stay in politics and become an independent representative. My sensible centrist values, belief in economic responsibility and focus on always putting the people first and acting in the nation’s interest have not changed. The Liberal Party has changed. Largely due to the actions of the reactionary and regressive right wing who talk to themselves rather than listening to the people.
“To continue to put the People before the Party and act in the nation’s interest authentically and constructively – effective immediately I will serve as a Member of House of Representatives as an Independent Representative. I intend to give the Government my assurance as to confidence and supply. In the new year, I will make a decision about my future career path. Like the three female Independent Representatives – the new Member for Wentworth, the Member for Mayo and the Member for Indi – sensible centre liberal values are at the core of what I stand for.
“As a result of this political journey I am grateful to have met so many wonderful people from across the political divide who I know will respect my decision and with whom I hope I will have enduring friendships. I am so proud to serve as a member of the House of Representatives with honour and respect because of the good People it represents. The People that the major parties have stopped listening to. The Australian People.”
