‘Taken an emotional toll’: Liberal MLC Jing Lee resigns from the party

After 15 years, Liberal MP Jing Lee has resigned from the state Liberal Party, with the Leader of Government Business claiming the Liberals had descended into “Hunger Games” mode.

The conga line of defecting or expelled Liberals MPs just got longer with Legislative Council member Jing Lee resigning to sit as an independent.

Colleagues said she “jumped before she was pushed” saying the low profile MLC had no chance of winning preselection at the state council meeting later this year.

They say her limited support tanked after she unexpectedly failed to back changes to abortion laws last year.

Jing Lee at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Leader of Government Business Tom Koutsantonis told The Advertiser the Liberals had descended into “Hunger Games” mode.

“It is a bit like the Hunger Games,” he said. “Government is serious business but then you have this. The Liberals are chaotic and dysfunctional, it is not the party of Middle Australia that supported Menzies and Playford.”

Ms Lee’s defection follows other MPs exiting the party after winning election as Liberals in recent years, for reasons including expulsion, including former leader Martin Hamilton-Smith who became Trade Minister under Labor, and his successor in the seat of Waite Sam Duluk.

Others include Dan Cregan who is now a Cabinet minister in the Labor government, Fraser Ellis, Troy Bell, Nick McBride, John Dawkins and Peter Lewis.

Former Liberal leader David Speirs resigned from the party and parliament last October amid police charges.

Ms Lee, who won just over 1600 personal votes at the 2018 election, will sit as an independent until at least the 2026 election while wishing the Liberals “every success.”

In a statement which gave no reason for resigning from the party she said she had “reevaluted my future.”

Multiple Liberals sources told the Advertiser she was “cooked” after losing support over the recent abortion law vote.

“She jumped before she was pushed,” one noted. “She had lost all support for preselection.”

The SA Liberal Party has introduced new rules for the coming election which means candidates have to sign a document pledging to repay all campaign funds if they defect.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said Ms Lee’s decision to “go into a different direction” was very disappointing but he respected it.

“It’s fair to say that after 15 years of state politics it’s certainly taken its emotional toll on Jing Lee,” he said.

“You never want to see any member of your team leave … we will now use this as an opportunity to refocus and also refresh the team as well.”

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia announced Ms Lee’s resignation on Saturday. Image/Russell Millard Photography

When asked if Ms Lee’s resignation had anything to do with the recent incident with Dr Joanna Howe, Mr Tarzia replied that “a number of factors” led to her decision.
“It’s a relentless job,” he said. “Recent events have clearly taken their toll on Jing.

Ms Lee said events in the lead-up to the vote left her feeling unsupported and panicked.

“It was a horrible experience for me and I hope no other members of parliament should ever have to go through this type of ordeal,” she said.

Ms Lee’s withdrawal forced Ms Lensink, who is on long-term sick leave, and her young son to make a late-night dash to Parliament House in an Uber.