Outgoing Liberal MP Julia Banks could run as independent

The outgoing Liberal MP, a key marginal seatholder, has triggered speculation she could run as an independent at the next election.

Julia Banks in the House of Representatives Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Outgoing Liberal MP Julia Banks, a key marginal seatholder, has triggered speculation she could run as an independent at the next election after telling constituents in her Melbourne eastern suburbs seat 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 Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership for her decision.

In a letter sent to the voters of Chisholm today and published by Nine News, Ms Banks confirmed she would not contest the election “as a member of the Liberal Party” but added: “This is not a farewell letter. Far from it. It is my honour and privilege to be your elected member of the House of Representatives in the federal parliament and I maintain my commitment to be your voice in parliament.”

Ms Banks, who voted for Mr Turnbull and former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop in the various leadership ballots, has been contacted for comment.

Sources close to Ms Banks said there was “no way” she would run against the Liberal Party as an independent and believed speculation she may do so was mischief making.

A Victorian Liberal MP interpreted the letter as meaning Ms Banks would work hard until the next election and noted a new candidate would be preselected for her seat shortly.

They said there had been no inkling she would run as an independent and it would be pointless to do so in a suburban seat.

The member for Chisholm holds the inner-metropolitan seat on a margin of 3.4 per cent and agreed to stay on until the election following several discussions with Scott Morrison.

She said in August the events of the leadership spill had taken an “enormous emotional toll” on her and her family and she had wanted the former Turnbull-Bishop leadership team to remain.

“So did I. I have always listened to the people who elected me and put Australia’s national interest before internal political games, factional party figures, self-proclaimed powerbrokers and certain media personalities who bear vindictive, mean-spirited grudges intent on settling their personal scores. Last week’s events were the last straw,” she said.

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

Ms Banks was the only Liberal MP to win a seat off Labor at the 2016 double-dissolution election.

In the letter Ms Banks urges her constituents to contact her or her office if they need any assistance or information on federal matters and said she would “always fight for what I stand for”.

“Namely that equality always wins and that particularly gender or cultural bias has no place in a modern Australia,” she said.