Julia Banks considers running against Greg Hunt in Flinders

Liberal turncoat Julia Banks could run against prominent minister Greg Hunt in the Peninsula seat of Flinders, as a new poll shows the party’s vote in the electorate has crashed.

Liberal turncoat Julia Banks is considering running against Health Minister Greg Hunt in the seat of Flinders, as a new poll shows the party’s vote in the electorate has crashed.

The Coalition is at risk of losing the senior Cabinet minister, with the poll putting Labor ahead on a two-party preferred vote of 51-49 in the Victorian seat.

Worryingly for Mr Hunt, almost half the people surveyed said they were less likely to vote for him as a result of his role in promoting Peter Dutton for prime minister.

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Julia Banks sits on the cross bench. She is considering running against Greg Hunt in the upcoming election. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

The survey by ReachTEL subsidiary UComms shows the Liberal Party’s primary vote has gone from 51.6 per cent at the 2016 election to 36.8.

The Herald Sun can reveal Ms Banks, who quit the Liberal Party and went to the crossbench in the wake of the toppling of Malcolm Turnbull, is considering switching seats to run against Mr Hunt as an independent.

It is understood the Member for Chisholm will likely announce her intentions in the next week.

Mr Hunt late yesterday confirmed he would recontest his seat at the next election, due in May.

Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer, Human Services Minister Michael Keenan and indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion all announced their retirements from politics over the past week.

In a worrying sign for Mr Hunt, the poll of 627 residents on January 24, commissioned by the CFMMEU, shows the Liberals have a problem with female voters in Flinders. Only 32.7 per cent of women surveyed said they would vote for the Liberal Party, compared with 41.2 per cent of men.

Greg Hunt and Julia Banks.

Mr Hunt has been under pressure since the August leadership spill after backing Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s challenge, which included Mr Hunt’s failed bid to become deputy leader.

When asked how Mr Hunt’s role in the leadership challenge would affect their vote, 47.8 per cent said they were less likely to vote for the sitting member, 17.8 per cent more likely and 34.4 said their vote would be unchanged.

The Liberals hold the Mornington Peninsula based seat on a 7.8 per cent margin.

Mr Hunt said he never took the seat for granted.

“Every election you have to work hard to secure the support of the voters. That hasn’t changed,” he said.

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Originally published as Julia Banks considers running against Greg Hunt in Flinders