Julia Banks bars former Liberal mentor after Twitter spat

Election campaign claims one of Julia Banks’s longest political friendships after a social media spat.

Julia Banks speaks to voters in the electorate of Flinders. Picture: David Geraghty

The heat of the federal election campaign has claimed one of Julia Banks’s longest political friendships, with the newly branded independent blocking former colleague and mentor Liberal senator Jane Hume on social media after a late night spat.

Senator Hume, who advised Ms Banks prior to her election in 2016, slammed her former colleague on Twitter as a “seat-­shopper" after a Saturday night tweet by Ms Banks about the ­beauty of the Mornington Peninsula, in the seat of Flinders, where she is challenging Health Minister Greg Hunt. “Surrounded by so much water, the Mornington Peninsula must have some of the best sunsets in the world!” she tweeted. “I love where I live.”

Senator Hume replied: “For heaven’s sake, you live in the electorate of Higgins. You’ve always lived in Higgins. Even for the three years you were the member for Chisholm, you lived in Higgins. More of your rubbish.”

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According to her declaration of interests, Ms Banks’s primary residence is in Malvern in the seat of Higgins. She also owns a holiday home in the Mornington Peninsula, which falls within the boundaries of Flinders. Ms Banks has abandoned her seat of Chisholm to run as an independent against Mr Hunt in Flinders, which he holds on a margin of 7.8 per cent.

Prolific tweeter Simon Holmes a Court chimed in to defend Ms Banks, accusing Senator Hume of “unbecoming … bitchiness”.

Senator Hume said her words weren’t malicious but she was fed up with Ms Banks’s hypocrisy.

Liberal candidate Warren Mundine. Picture: Hollie Adams

“Thanks for the searing insights from the ivory tower ­@simonahacm,” she said. “Yours is a truly warped form of chivalry. You need not speak for me — I’m capable of calling it as I see it. But does @juliabanksmp know that you’ll drop her like a stone when she’s no longer of use to you?”

Two hours after the fiery exchange, Senator Hume tweeted a screenshot showing she had been blocked from following and viewing Ms Banks’s account.

Ms Banks defected to the crossbench last year after Malcolm Turnbull was removed as prime minister, saying she was bullied and there was a culture of intimidation and gender bias.

She refused to name the ­Coalition MPs she said were bullying her.

In recent days, Mr Holmes a Court has attacked Mr Hunt online over his new-found opposition to AGL’s plan to build Australia’s first liquefied natural gas import plant at Crib Point.

“Oh look who’s become an ­environmentalist again after a long hiatus!” he tweeted on Friday. “Wouldn’t have something to do with an election would it ­@GregHuntMP?”