Julia Banks quits federal Parliament at next election

VICTORIAN Liberal MP Julia Banks will quit federal Parliament, releasing an explosive statement taking aim at the “vindictive, mean-spirit grudges” that brought down Malcolm Turnbull.

VICTORIAN Liberal MP Julia Banks has dropped a bombshell on the Morrison Government, announcing she will quit her marginal seat and politics at the next election after just one term in parliament.

In an explosive statement on social media, Ms Banks took aim at “factional party figures, self-proclaimed powerbrokers and certain media personalities” for their “vindictive, mean-spirit grudges” who brought down Malcolm Turnbull.

It comes amid allegations that supporters of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had bullied female MPs and threaten their preselection if they did not support a leadership spill.

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Ms Banks, the only Liberal to win a seat from Labor at the 2016 election and a loyal supporter of Mr Turnbull, said the events of last week were “the last straw”.

Julia Banks, right, with former PM Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Her southeast suburban seat of Chisholm is held by 3.4 per cent and would be lost under currently polling.

Ms Banks wrote: I have received hundreds of emails and calls from my constituents and their voice has been very clear. They wanted Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership as Prime Minister to continue. They wanted Julie Bishop to remain as our Deputy leader and Foreign Minister. So did I.”

“The people of Chisholm know that I say what I think. They know I will always call out bad behaviour and not tolerate any form of bullying or intimidation. I have experienced this both from within my own party and from the Labor Party.

Ms Banks said she was “not done” and would continue to fight for equality within the Liberal Party — on heritage, gender and sexuality.

“The scourge of cultural and gender bias, bullying and intimidation continues and against in politics, the media and across business,” she said.

“In anticipating my critics saying I’m ‘playing the gender card’ — I say this: Women have suffered in silence too long and in this last 12 months the world have seen many courageous women speak out. To young women and men reading this announcement — I say I’ve only ever aspired to inspire. If I’ve inspired any one of you to have leadership courage — that will sustain me.”

She said Mr Turnbull’s was an “inspiring and visionary leader of great “intellect and integrity”. She said his legacy was “strong economic leadership.”

Why vowing loyalty to new PM Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg she said she would take personal leave before parliament returned on September 10.

“This period has taken an enormous toll on me and my beloved family,” she said.

“I ask simply that in the months ahead that people be kind. That’s the Australian way.”

Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger said there were no federal MPs from the state whose preselections were threatened because everyone in the lower house had been endorsed.

“That’s just part of the nonsense of leadership challenges that goes one,” Mr Kroger told Sky News Australia.

“It’s all rubbish and people in the game know that.”

“Can we stick to facts here. Someone said that ‘someone’s brother’s sister’s cousin was spoken to rudely by the butcher’s aunty. I mean seriously, can we talk in facts here rather than pathetic rumour and innuendo.”

He paid tribute to Ms Banks as a good MP and a good person and said the Liberals would hold a community preselection in the coming weeks.