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.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison in question time on Wednesday. He is being treated with less respect.
Mick Tsikis/AAP
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’s chameleon quality means that he may be able to modify the blokey approach if the focus groups suggest that’s required.
Mick Tskias/AAP
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.
Liberal backbenchers Julia Banks and Julie Bishop during question time in parliament.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
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.
The Liberal Party room is dominated – and increasingly so over the past generation – by male MPs who anoint leaders in their own image.
AAP/Lukas Coch
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.
Julia Banks’ seat of Chisholm is on a margin of less than 3% after the distribution.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
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.