Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam will leave politics before the end of the year, delivering another significant setback to the Coalition, which is currently experiencing its lowest approval ratings in decades.
The Tasmanian senator, who has served in parliament since 2016, described his resignation as an "extremely difficult decision to make," but one he had been contemplating for "quite some time" in order to prioritise time with his family.
"I have spent the past 25 years in politics, the last 10 of those as a senator for Tasmania – and I have given everything to these responsibilities, often at the expense of family," he said in a statement released on Sunday.
"Twenty-five years is a long time in any vocation and, when you take your role seriously, it always comes first. It is time I reversed my priorities and I can’t do that if I am to stay in politics."
"I leave federal politics proud and grateful but exhausted."
Duniam, who currently serves as the shadow home affairs minister, stated that he had informed Opposition Leader Angus Taylor of his decision. Taylor requested that Duniam complete the Coalition's immigration policy work before departing.
"I am very happy to be able to do that – and to devote myself to building on the extensive work that Angus and the team have already undertaken on our Australian values migration plan and on restoring integrity, confidence and national interest to Australia’s migration system," Duniam added.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described Duniam as one of the opposition's "best and brightest" during an interview on Sky News on Sunday.
The 43-year-old acknowledged that his announcement comes at a challenging time for the Coalition. Current polling data suggests the party could be ousted as the primary opposition at the next federal election if One Nation's recent surge in popularity continues.
In May, a Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll published in the Australian Financial Review indicated that One Nation's primary vote had surpassed both Labor and the Coalition for the first time.
Earlier this week, Tony Pasin, a conservative Liberal from rural South Australia and a shadow minister, proposed that his party and One Nation should "work hand-in-glove to defeat Labor" by arranging an agreement not to contest the same seats.
This suggestion was swiftly dismissed by Taylor, and Liberal Senator James Paterson criticised the proposal as "premature."
"I am not interested in dividing the spoils with another political party two years out from the election and frankly hitching our wagon to their brand with all the risks that that entails between now and then," Paterson said.
