Julia Banks quits Liberal Party to sit on crossbench
Julia Banks drops a political bombshell in parliament, plunging Scott Morrison further into minority government.
The Morrison government has lost another seat in federal parliament with Victorian Liberal MP Julia Banks announcing she will immediately move to the crossbench as an independent.
Ms Banks, the member for Chisholm, announced she will sit as an independent for the rest of the parliamentary term, plunging Scott Morrison further into minority government.
However Ms Banks said she would give the government support on key issues of confidence and supply.
In a bombshell announcement to the House of Representatives, she cited the leadership coup against former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull as the main reason for defecting to the crossbench, saying her colleagues were driven by their individual self-promotion rather than the Australian public.
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“My sensible centrist values, belief in economic responsibility and focus on always putting the people first and acting in the nation’s interest has not changed,’’ she said.
“The Liberal Party has changed largely due to the actions of the reactionary and aggressive right-wing who talk about and talk to themselves rather than listening to the people.
STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/gmAmbFyY7y
— Julia Banks MP (@juliabanksmp) November 27, 2018
“To continue to put the people before the party and act in the nation’s interest authentically and constructively, effective immediately, I will serve as a member of this House of Representatives as an independent representative.
“I intend to give the government my assurances to confidence and supply. In the new year I will make a decision about my future career path.”
Ms Banks said “hundreds” of people from her local community in her inner Melbourne seat of Chisholm and from across Australia had pleaded with her to stay in politics and become an independent.
“After being a Labor-held seat for 18 years, the people of Chisholm elected me as I promised them that I would be their representative under the leadership of the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and former deputy leader and foreign minister Julie Bishop, both visionary inspiring leaders of sensible centrist liberal values with integrity and intellect and with significant support from my local community and across Australia as leaders of our nation,” Ms Banks said.
“The gift of time in reflection has provided some clarity regarding the brutal blow against the leadership. Led by members of the reactionary right wing, the coup was aided by many MPs trading their vote for a leadership change in exchange for their individual promotion, preselection endorsements or silence. Their actions were undeniably for themselves, for their position in the party, their power, their personal ambition, not for the Australian people who we represent, not for what people voted for in the 2016 election, not for stability and disregarding that teamwork and unity delivers success.
“The aftermath of those dark days in August then acutely laid bare the major parties obstructionist and combative actions and internal games — all for political point scoring rather than for timely, practical, sensible decisions on matters which Australians care about.”
Ms Banks was hugged by fellow independents including Cathy McGowan, Rebekha Sharkie and Kerryn Phelps after making her announcement.
There was also applause as she concluded her speech, which was watched by Turnbull ally Craig Laundy.
South Australian Liberal senator Lucy Gichuhi appeared to applaud her former colleague Julia Banks when she heard the news she had defected to the crossbench.
Senator Gichuhi told The Australian earlier this year she “recognised” bullying and intimidation in the midst of her party’s leadership crisis.
“Sometimes you just have to do what you need to do. Julia has a case and I think the issue affecting the Liberal Party and women can’t hide our face in the sand. If that is what she’s pushing through good on her,” Senator Gichuhi told the ABC.
Former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has called for more female representatives in her party as she expresses her sadness in Julia Banks’s decision to defect to the crossbench.
Ms Bishop, who is a good friend of Ms Banks’, said her colleague would be “missed”.
“I am saddened that Julia Banks had reached a point that she felt that she could no longer continue in the Liberal Party,” Ms Bishop said.
“She was a strong, sensible centre female politician in our Party. But I’m sure knowing her as well as I do, she would have thought long and hard about how she could best serve the interests of her electorate.
“This does highlight the fact the Liberal party needs and should have more female representatives.”
Bishop calls for more Liberal women
Former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has called for more female representatives in her party as she expresses her sadness in Julia Banks’s decision to defect to the crossbench.
Ms Bishop, who is a good friend of Ms Banks’, said her colleague would be “missed”.
“I am saddened that Julia Banks had reached a point that she felt that she could no longer continue in the Liberal Party,” Ms Bishop said.
“She was a strong, sensible centre female politician in our party. But I’m sure knowing her as well as I do, she would have thought long and hard about how she could best serve the interests of her electorate.
“This does highlight the fact the Liberal party needs and should have more female representatives.”
No warning to Liberal colleagues
Ms Banks was not at the joint Coalition party room meeting this morning, and did not alert colleagues to her pending announcement.
The Australian understands Ms Sharkie was aware Ms Banks was going to stand up in the House to make her statement.
The key marginal seat-holder triggered speculation in October she could run as an independent at the next election after telling constituents she was “far from” farewelling them.
Ms Banks announced she would not recontest the election in August and blamed bullying, intimidation and the leadership turmoil that ousted her friend Mr Turnbull from the prime ministership for her decision.
The Parliament has a women problem, slut-shamming, power plays and the boys club. https://t.co/VfXIAiIRpG
— Emma Husar MP (@emmahusarmp) November 27, 2018
How the House looks
The Morrison government now holds just 73 votes on the floor of the House of Representatives, with Speaker Tony Smith making 74 MPs.
Labor has 69 MPs while the crossbench will be made up of 7 independents.
With the new makeup of the House of Representatives, Labor can reach an absolute majority of 76 votes if it gains the support of all seven crossbench MPs.
The House Seating Plan has been updated to reflect @juliabanksmp's announcement that she will now sit as an Independent Member. https://t.co/q4zAeRZn3D pic.twitter.com/tRKsVt4gnC
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) November 27, 2018
An absolute majority is a magic number in the lower house and would enable Labor to bring on an immediate debate and vote on its own legislation or other motions — such as a no-confidence motion.
Liberal MP Eric Abetz tweeted that he was “sad’’ to see Ms Banks leave the party and that he hoped she would reconsider.
“Just as I said when Cory (Bernardi) left, it’s always sad to see a member of the family leave and I hope Julia will reconsider over time. Of course it is disappointing but it won’t distract us from delivering good government in the best tradition of our uniting Liberal values,’’ Senator Abetz said.
Just as I said when Cory left, it's always sad to see a member of the family leave and I hope Julia will reconsider over time. Of course it is disappointing but it won’t distract us from delivering good government in the best tradition of our uniting Liberal values.
— Eric Abetz (@SenatorAbetz) November 27, 2018
Her announcement came at the same time the Prime Minister and his Treasurer Josh Frydenberg were holding a press conference announcing they will deliver a “surplus” budget on April 2.
Labor’s Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said “before Scott Morrison could get back to his office, he’d lost another member of parliament’’.
“Why is Turnbull no longer PM? Why is this man here? There’s only one way to end the chaos; a Shorten, Labor government,’’ Mr Bowen said.
.@Bowenchris: Before @ScottMorrisonMP could get back to his office, he'd lost another member of parliament. Why is Turnbull no longer PM? Why is this man here? There's only one way to end the chaos; a Shorten, Labor government.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 27, 2018
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