Cory Bernardi Set to Ditch the Liberal Party; Might Start A New Party for Conservatives

The South Australian senator will reportedly walk away from the Liberals within the next 48 hours.

The ABC understands Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi may start a new party for disenchanted conservative voters upon his split from the Coalition. Rumor has it, Bernardi started a website called “Australian Majority” as a precursor to creating his own party.

Update: It now looks like that party will be called "Australian Conservatives".

In his latest newsletter, he said 2017 will be a “testing year” for the Government. “Unfortunately there are too few in our body politic willing to take the path less travelled—a trustworthy track that has fallen out of use,” he wrote.

In case you had forgotten, Bernardi hasn’t always necessarily “gotten along” with the Liberals. In 2012 he resigned as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s parliamentary secretary over comments he made linking gay marriage to bestiality.

Then—in 2014—Bernardi accused women of using abortion as “an abhorrent form of birth control”, and said pro-choice advocates were “pro-death”. He also spoke out against a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution, and wished to wind back the Racial Discimination Act.

Cory Bernardi imagining Australia without his party in it. #auspol pic.twitter.com/3TR9ON6zo6

— Ivana Kovac Kuti (@IKKsays) February 5, 2017

As parliament resumes this year, things aren’t coming up Milhouse for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. (Or—should I say—President of Australia Malcolm Trumble?)

Figures from the first Newspoll of the year show support for the Liberal party is at its lowest level since Turnbull ousted Abbott as PM. Labor’s popularity remains unchanged, and One Nation’s is on the rise.

Photo: Twitter (@corybernardi, via @SwannyQLD, and @JoshButler)