JULIA BANKS GLOATS AS LIBERALS SINK

Julia Banks actually seems gleeful after junking the Liberals and throwing herself into the arms of the Left. There is nothing about her quitting that seems to pain her or suggest a more-in-sorrow-than-anger agonising. Check the pictures - the laughing, the hugs at the crossbenchers' Christmas party. UPDATE: And the hand-holding with a Labor MP.

Julia Banks and Kerryn Phelps

Julia Banks actually seems gleeful after junking the Liberals and throwing herself into the arms of the Left.  

There is nothing about her quitting that seems to pain her or suggest a more-in-sorrow-than-anger agonising.

Check the pictures - the laughing with other women who have defeated the Liberals, the hugs  with Kerryn Phelps (in close contact with Liberal backstabber Malcolm Turnbull), the hugs at the crossbenchers Christmas party.

Julia Banks with three crossbenchers who all beat Liberals

And it's clear what Julie Bishop is up to - preparing to sell herself as the Liberal leader who can appeal to the "middle ground". Which means taking the party further Left, under the leadership of a woman not famous for understanding tax policy or fighting to key Liberal values:

Julie Bishop, Bill Shorten, and Dr Kerryn Phelps at the Crossbench party.

Julie Bishop, Rebehka Sharkie, Julia Banks and Dr Keryn Phelps at the Crossbench Christmas

Do Liberals realise that the reason all these enemies of the Liberals are smiling is not so much that they like Bishop but like how she's helping them attack her party?

UPDATE

And there's the hand-holding with Labor's Anne Aly:

Former Liberal, and now crossbencher, Julia Banks and Labor’s Anne Aly in parliament yesterday. Picture: Gary Ramage