Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Hughes indicated to me earlier today that he wishes to make a brief statement on indulgence.

Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to advise the House that this morning in the joint Liberal party room, with a heavy heart, I resigned from the Liberal Party, and I will be sitting as an Independent for the duration of the current parliament. I have also resigned from my positions on all parliamentary committees, including the chair of the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement. To honour the commitment to the voters of Hughes, who elected me under the Liberal banner, I will, of course, support the government on matters of supply, confidence and procedure, and I will seek to vote in a manner consistent with all official policies that the coalition took to the 2019 election.

The reason for my action is that, over the past several months, I've been subject to a slander and smear campaign when my goal was only to save lives by ensuring that my constituents and, in fact, all Australians were not being denied access to medical treatments if their doctors believed those treatments could save their lives. Therefore I see that, if I'm to continue to act in line with my conscience and my principles and the oath that I took on becoming a member of his parliament and continue to speak fearlessly and faithfully, representing my constituents, I have no alternative other than to take the action that I have. I thank the House.