Paul Starick: Why Cities Minister Jamie Briggs’ won’t be missed from federal ministry

OPINION: Jamie Briggs’ departure from the federal ministry will not be mourned by those who loathed his brash, aggressive and, at times, precious attitude

25/12/2015: Minister Jamie Briggs holds a press conference to announce his resignation from the Turnbull Government frontbench over a late-night incident involving a female public servant in a Hong Kong bar during an official visit last month. . Kelly Barnes/The Australian

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JAMIE Briggs’ departure from the federal ministry will not be mourned by those who loathed his brash, aggressive and, at times, precious attitude.

Ironically for a country boy from a middle-class Catholic family, his public and political detractors complain of a sense of entitlement for which his Mayo predecessor, Alexander Downer, was often lampooned.

Mr Briggs has only himself to blame for the boozy Hong Kong bar incident which has forced him to quit the frontbench. Making comments about a female public servant’s piercing eyes, for example, is asking for trouble.

But the withering criticism he will now endure — from some political commentators and many in the public — reinforces that many made up their minds about Mr Briggs long ago.

Just as they did with his close ally Tony Abbott’s ousting, many will view Mr Briggs’ downfall as confirmation of his fatal flaws. This will, in turn, reinforce the popularity of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who represents a fresh approach.

Mr Briggs’ innuendo-filled resignation could not have come at a worse time for the South Australian federal Liberals. SA is the only state, according to Newspoll, in which they trail Labor.

The threat from popular Senator Nick Xenophon’s candidates to Liberal-held seats at next year’s election appeared to have receded since Mr Turnbull seized power in September.

But Mr Briggs now has the uncomfortable juxtaposition of the Nick Xenophon Team’s candidate being his former staffer Rebekha Sharkie.

Senator Xenophon‘s group secured 28.25 per cent of the Senate vote in Mayo at the 2013 election, compared to 30.72 per cent for the Liberals.

The political damage to Mr Briggs bolsters her chances in a seat which, in 1998, was almost captured by a strong third-party candidate.

Redgum frontman and Australian Democrats candidate John Schumann secured 48.26 per cent of two-party preferred support and Mr Downer clung on by less than 3000 votes.

Mr Briggs, 38, has been earmarked as a rising star. His political pedigree includes a three-year stint as a senior adviser in John Howard’s prime ministerial office, where his wife, Estee Fiebiger Briggs, also worked with aplomb.

But he is now damaged political goods, locked with golden handcuffs in a Liberal stronghold which his conduct has left dangerously exposed.

Mr Briggs has great persistence and ambition. He will require significant doses of both if he is to achieve his hope of returning, one day, to the Coalition ministry.