Malcolm Turnbull has struck back angrily at a report that he has been helping independent Kerryn Phelps, his successor in Wentworth, as chaos continues to fracture the Liberals.
Josh Frydenberg on the Liberal troubles
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Frydenberg reiterates that the Liberal party is still a "broad church" and says he isn't concerned about other MPs like Craig Kelly following Banks' suit.
The Victorian backbencher has announced she is quitting the party to join the crossbench, launching a scathing attack on the right wing of the Liberal Party in the process.
Morrison is conflicted. It’s risky for him to play down the allegations of standover tactics, let alone fail to take seriously enough the party’s need for more female MPs.
New research shows that conservative voters generally fail to see how being female can impede political success, while left-of-centre voters list gender as the main obstacle to success.
Other conservatives parties in the Western world have done better on female representation than the Liberals - the party needs a gender quota and to rid itself of its right-wing thugs.
In announcing she would not contest the next election, the member for the highly-marginal Chisholm has cited bullying and intimidation for provoking her decision.