Simon Birmingham wants Julia Banks’ bullying claims ‘thoroughly investigated’

Simon Birmingham has pushed for Julia Banks’ bullying and intimidation claims to be “thoroughly investigated” by his party.

Liberal Member for Chisholm Julia Banks.

Senior South Australian Liberal senator Simon Birmingham has pushed for Julia Banks’ bullying and intimidation claims to be “thoroughly investigated” by his party after former Turnbull government workplace minister Craig Laundy called for an official process to deal with such complaints.

But Leader of the House Christopher Pyne played down the need for a conflict of resolution process as proposed by Mr Laundy, like an internal panel to consider complaints, insisting they should be dealt with in the “normal” way.

Senator Birmingham, the Trade Minister and government’s deputy Senate leader, said he expected party whips and presiding officers would look at issues like those raised by Ms Banks — the only Liberal MP to win a seat from Labor in the 2016 election.

Ms Banks announced earlier this week she would not contest the next election after just one term in federal parliament, citing bullying and intimidation from both said of politics and the events of last week’s leadership turmoil as the “last straw”.

“These sorts of actions have no place in any workplace, and certainly should have no place in the parliament. I trust Julia’s claims will be thoroughly investigated within the Liberal Party system,” Senator Birmingham told ABC radio.

“In a broader sense you’re asking — should there be some sort of parliamentary or cross-party approach there? Obviously there are parliamentary processes in place such as the privileges committees, as well as the key role that presiding officers and whips play.

“I would expect that the whips and presiding officers would look at issues like this and consider whether anything can or ought to be done to improve the way people can come forward and have them addressed if they need to.”

Mr Laundy, who like Ms Banks, Senator Birmingham and Mr Pyne was a Malcolm Turnbull supporter, told The Australian political parties should “lead by example” and look at adopting avenues for resolution of conflict.

Liberal MPs can make complaints to the government’s chief whip, Nola Marino, who may then raise the issue with Scott Morrison to deal with the matter.

Mr Pyne said Ms Banks’ decision to stand down was a “real shame” after her “remarkable achievement” of clinching the long-held Labor seat of Chisholm, which she holds on a margin of 3.4 per cent.

“If there is any bullying going on in the parliament then it should be dealt with in a normal process,” Mr Pyne told Nine’s Today.

“I understand that the chief whip, Nola Marino, she hasn’t informed me she has received a complaint about bullying. Julia has made a wide-ranging claim that bullying and intimidation is really part of the culture in Parliament House both Labor and Liberal. I think that’s a real shame.

“If I do become aware of it (a complaint) I will obviously make sure it’s dealt with appropriately.”

Ms Banks and West Australian senator Linda Reynolds, the new home affairs assistant minister, remain the only Liberal MPs to publicly hit out at bullying but have not provided examples.

Some Liberal MPs have told The Australian they felt pressured to sign a petition to force Mr Turnbull to call a partyroom meeting and spill the leadership but said they did not think it amounted to bullying or intimidation.

Mr Laundy declined an offer for a role on Scott Morrison’s frontbench after Mr Turnbull was ousted from the top job on Friday and is considering whether to run again in his marginal seat of Reid.

“I have not taken this decision lightly, but the significant challenges we faced

last week took a massive toll, both emotionally and physically, hence my

decision to take a step back, and consider what my future holds,” he said on Monday.

Mr Turnbull will officially resign from his seat of Wentworth today, reducing the Coalition’s numbers to 74 in the lower house after Nationals MP Kevin Hogan announced he would sit on the crossbench.