Ex Liberal turns on former Coalition mates, preferencing Labor over Liberal at the election

A former Liberal turned independent has enraged former Coalition colleagues by preferencing Labor ahead of the Liberals for the May 18 federal election.

Julia Banks in the House of Representatives. Picture: Kym Smith

Liberal turncoat Julia Banks has enraged her former colleagues by deciding to preference Labor ahead of the government in the seat of Flinders.

The decision will make it even tougher for Health Minister Greg Hunt to hold on to the seat, which is on a 7.2 per cent margin.

Ms Banks, an ally of Malcolm Turnbull, quit the Liberal Party after last year’s leadership spill which brought down the former Prime Minister.

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She chose not to recontest her seat of Chisholm and instead take on Mr Hunt in Flinders, centred in and around the Mornington Peninsula.

Sources from both Labor and the Liberal Party confirmed they expected Ms Banks to preference the ALP’s candidate Joshua Sinclair.

Sitting Flinders MP and cabinet minister Greg Hunt. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.

Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume said Ms Banks’ decision was “not particularly surprising”.

“For Julia, deserting her seat of Chisholm to run in Flinders was never about principles, it was always personal,” Senator Hume said.

“It speaks volumes of her character that Julia believes she can manipulate the voters of Flinders in this weird sponsored personal vendetta. But Flinders voters are smarter than that — they’ve worked her out.”

Although Labor’s chances in the seat are boosted by Ms Banks’ decision, both Labor and the Liberals expect Mr Hunt to hold on.

The independent MP is not expected to finish ahead of either of the two major parties, but her preferences could deliver Labor the seat.

Ms Banks’ office was contacted for comment.

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