Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam will leave politics before the end of the year, delivering another significant setback to the struggling Coalition as it records its lowest popularity levels in decades.
Difficult Decision
The Tasmanian senator, elected to parliament in 2016 and regarded as one of the Liberals' finest talents, described the choice as "extremely difficult" but something he had contemplated for "quite some time" to devote more time to his family.
"Where we're at in the polls is irrelevant," the 43-year-old stated on Sunday. "It wouldn't matter whether we were on the precipice of a landslide win or the doldrums of electoral defeat, I would be making the same decision I am today."
Leadership Spill Impact
Duniam, who serves as the opposition's home affairs spokesperson, revealed he had informed opposition leader Angus Taylor of his decision. Taylor requested that he complete the Coalition's immigration policy work before departing.
Taylor described Duniam's retirement as a "great loss" for the Liberals, calling him "intelligent, articulate and always across his brief."
His departure follows fellow Tasmanian Liberal senator Wendy Askew's announcement that she would leave the upper house after being appointed in 2019 to fill a casual vacancy.
Duniam said the party's leadership change earlier this year was an "exhausting" and "difficult" process that accelerated his decision to retire.
"When the leadership change came along, it started to really wear on me. It was less about direction and more about my personal energy levels, and to that end, that is why I made that decision," he explained.
Family First
Duniam admitted feeling as though he was "letting down the team" but noted he had given 25 years to the party and needed to prioritize his family.
"I am leaving the field of battle and leaving them on it, which is not a good feeling, but at the end of the day one has to make a choice," he said. "I've got three boys, I've got a family that I need to ensure have me around as well, and that's why I made this decision."
Reactions
Newly elected federal Liberal president Tony Abbott expressed disappointment but acknowledged the challenges of public life. Abbott stressed that Duniam's retirement requires the opposition to put "every hand on deck right now to save Australia from a terrible government and keep us our best selves."
Home affairs minister Tony Burke told Sky News on Sunday that Duniam was one of the opposition's "best and brightest."
Political Context
Duniam's announcement comes at a difficult time for the Coalition. According to current polling, the party could be wiped out as the opposition at the next federal election if One Nation's surge in popularity persists.
In May, a Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll published in the Australian Financial Review showed One Nation's primary vote surpassing both Labor and the Coalition for the first time.
Earlier this week, conservative Liberal Tony Pasin from rural South Australia suggested his party and One Nation should "work hand-in-glove to defeat Labor" by arranging a deal not to run in the same seats. The suggestion was quickly rejected by Taylor, and Liberal senator James Paterson criticized it as "premature."
Duniam dismissed talks about deals with One Nation two years before a federal election as "not relevant."
"Because if we're just going to wave the white flag and say that it's over now [and] we've just got to do deals with others to get across the line, then we're not doing our job properly," he concluded.
