Veteran Liberal Party MP Russell Broadbent quits party, moves to crossbench

Veteran Liberal Russell Broadbent has quit the Liberal Party and defected to the crossbench after being thumped in a preselection contest on the weekend, making him the third MP to leave the Coalition since last year’s election.

The maverick MP, first elected in 1990, lost preselection for the seat of Monash on Sunday when he was defeated by Mary Aldred by a thumping margin of 161 to 16.

Long-serving MP Russell Broadbent will move to the crossbench.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“I’m not going to cause the party a byelection,” Broadbent said on Tuesday afternoon, promising to remain in his marginal seat of Monash, held by a 3 per cent margin, until the next election.

In Labor’s caucus meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed to Broadbent’s decision as evidence that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was struggling to hold together his party.

“Since becoming leader, that party has reduced in the House of Representatives from 58 members now to 55, as of today,” Albanese said in the meeting, according to a caucus spokesman, referring to Nationals defector Andrew Gee and former MP Alan Tudge, whose resignation led to Labor’s Aston byelection win.

Dutton, speaking to his own MPs, said the decision was “regrettable” but noted Broadbent had not criticised the party or its policies.

Peter Dutton noted Broadbent had not criticised the party or its policies.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The 72-year-old told Coalition MPs in a private party room meeting on Tuesday morning he was about to take medical leave, according to three Liberal sources speaking anonymously to detail what happened in the meeting.

Broadbent posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, telling his constituents of his decision to move to the crossbench.

“I am a Liberal at heart and my values have not changed,” he said.

“On Sunday, there was a pre-selection [sic] where I received less than 10 per cent of the vote. This was a clear signal from members and one which I believe revokes my licence to represent the Liberal Party in the electorate of Monash.

“As I said in the party room this morning, I believe there are storm clouds ahead for this nation and I strongly encouraged the party to support the leader.

“It has been an honour to stand in the parliament as the Liberal member for Monash for the past 25 years, and I wish the Liberal Party all the best.”

His defection takes the number of lower house independents to 18, though the balance of power is unaffected because Labor has a clear majority of MPs.

Three Coalition MPs speaking on background to detail party reaction referred to Broadbent’s act as a “dummy spit” that showed a lack of respect for the career the party allowed Broadbent to have.

But other sources said Broadbent was right to feel let down by Victorian party figures who failed to properly communicate with him about the possibility of retiring before Aldred launched a challenge.

Senior Victorian Liberal Dan Tehan praised his contribution.

“Russell has always been an individual of integrity and compassion, and has always stuck to his values,” Mr Tehan said.

One Liberal member said they had expected Aldred to win, but the convincing margin of the victory had come as a surprise.

Mary Aldred, pictured in 2019, defeated Broadbent in the preselection challenge for the seat of Monash.Credit: Arsineh Houspian

Aldred is the former chief executive of the Committee for Gippsland. She is viewed as a moderate and is the daughter of former federal MP Ken Aldred. Her step-brother is former federal education minister Alan Tudge.

Broadbent never held a frontbench position and commonly spoke out on issues of personal interest. He broke with the Howard government over asylum seeker policies, was one of only a handful of MPs to vote against same-sex marriage, and initially supported the Voice to parliament before changing his position.

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