Jonno Duniam to quit politics, says leadership spill 'started to really wear on me'

Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam will quit politics before the end of the year, dealing another blow to a Coalition that is recording its lowest levels of popularity in decades. The Tasmanian senator, elected in 2016 and regarded as one of the party’s best talents, said it was an “extremely difficult decision to make” but one he had been considering for “quite some time” to spend more time with family.

“Where we’re at in the polls is irrelevant,” he added. Duniam, who is the opposition’s home affairs spokesperson, told the opposition leader Angus Taylor of his plans; Taylor asked him to finish the Coalition’s immigration policy work before stepping down. Taylor called his retirement a “great loss”, saying Duniam was “intelligent, articulate and always across his brief”.

The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, described him as one of the opposition’s “best and brightest”. He said the party’s leadership change earlier this year was an “exhausting” and “difficult” process that helped catalyse his decision.

Australia, Tasmania

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