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Cory Bernardi to quit Liberals to form own conservative party Cory Bernardi to quit Liberals to form own conservative party
(about 1 hour later)
The outspoken South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi will break away from the Turnbull government early this week to form his own conservative movement.The outspoken South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi will break away from the Turnbull government early this week to form his own conservative movement.
Bernardi has gone to ground, but expectations within the government are now hard set that the split is on. Bernardi has gone to ground but expectations within the government are now hard set that the split is on.
The South Australian has been telling friends he’s been waiting for the resumption of parliament for 2017 to clarify his intentions, which have been the subject of internal speculation for much of the summer.The South Australian has been telling friends he’s been waiting for the resumption of parliament for 2017 to clarify his intentions, which have been the subject of internal speculation for much of the summer.
Bernardi is likely to confirm his position either on Tuesday, which is the first day of the new parliamentary year, or by midweek.Bernardi is likely to confirm his position either on Tuesday, which is the first day of the new parliamentary year, or by midweek.
It is not yet clear whether he will exit the party alone, or whether he will be joined by others, including the Liberal National party backbencher George Christensen, who has been sending explicit warnings to the prime minister over several months.It is not yet clear whether he will exit the party alone, or whether he will be joined by others, including the Liberal National party backbencher George Christensen, who has been sending explicit warnings to the prime minister over several months.
Christensen was also not answering calls on Monday.Christensen was also not answering calls on Monday.
Bernardi’s defection has been a long time coming. Bernardi’s defection has been a long time coming. His Conservative Leadership Foundation reregistered a number of domain names relating to a conservative party in December 2014, including conservative.org.au, conservativeparty.com.au and conservativeparty.org.au.
Bernardi’s Conservative Leadership Foundation reregistered a number of domain names relating to a conservative party in December 2014, including conservative.org.au, conservativeparty.com.au and conservativeparty.org.au. Immediately after the election last year, when the Coalition almost lost office, Bernardi warned a conservative revolution was required within the Liberal party to reset the broad policy direction “and if we don’t do that we’ve got a taste of the revolution waiting for us outside”.
Immediately after the election last year when the Coalition almost lost office, Bernardi warned a conservative revolution was required within the Liberal party to reset the broad policy direction “and if we don’t do that we’ve got a taste of the revolution waiting for us outside”. He had a ringside seat in the US during the presidential election that saw Donald Trump take the presidency on the back of a conservative, grassroots insurgency.
He had a ringside seat in the United States during the recent presidential election which saw Donald Trump take the presidency on the back of a conservative, grassroots insurgency. His preparations to break away have intensified after what he witnessed in the US.
His preparations to break away have intensified after what he witnessed in the United States. The split to open the political year will add to the list of woes being faced by the prime minister, which include bad polling, a lack of Senate support for the government’s policy agenda and a threat from a resurgent One Nation party.
The split to open the political year will add to the list of woes currently being faced by the prime minister, which include bad polling, a lack of Senate support for the government’s policy agenda and a threat from a resurgent One Nation party.
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, attempted to hose down the dangers posed by the split in an interview on Monday where the Sydney broadcaster Ray Hadley declared the only hope the government had of retaining power was if Malcolm Turnbull resigned as prime minister.The treasurer, Scott Morrison, attempted to hose down the dangers posed by the split in an interview on Monday where the Sydney broadcaster Ray Hadley declared the only hope the government had of retaining power was if Malcolm Turnbull resigned as prime minister.
Morrison said what Bernardi did was ultimately up to him. “Let’s see what he announces, what he chooses to do is a matter for him.”Morrison said what Bernardi did was ultimately up to him. “Let’s see what he announces, what he chooses to do is a matter for him.”