Via Domainfax:
Cory Bernardi is set to upend centre-right politics in Australia and announce on Tuesday that he is resigning from the Liberal Party to head his own conservative movement in a stunning move that will rock the Turnbull government as Parliament returns for the new political year.
Fairfax Media has learned that in recent days Senator Bernardi informed his staff of his decision to defect from the party he has represented in the Senate for a decade and join the crossbench as an independent conservative senator for South Australia, fearing the rise of populist parties will continue if right-wing voters aren’t given a viable alternative.
His resignation will emulate Don Chipp’s in 1977, when the former Liberal minister sent shockwaves through the Coalition by quitting the party and founding the Australian Democrats. There are now fears other MPs could follow Senator Bernardi out the door, along with Liberal Party donors and voters. The outspoken Nationals MP George Christensen has previously said he would use the summer break to also consider his future.
Senator Bernardi has links to lucrative political donors including Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart, who has previously contributed to the Coalition.
While Senator Bernardi will continue to support the government on crucial issues like supply, he intends to use his new position to try and keep his old party true to its principles by advocating liberal economic policies like lower taxes, smaller government and socially conservative values.
He should just join One Nation. Either way, high immigration and Do-nothing Malcolm are toast.
