The Liberal party will face a high-stakes byelection in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs after the Victorian shadow frontbencher Alan Tudge confirmed he will quit politics.
Tudge, who holds the marginal seat of Aston, confirmed his departure after question time on Thursday, saying his resignation would be effective from next week.
The byelection will be an early test of the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, in a state where the Liberal party has underperformed for several election cycles. Tudge, battling several controversies, faced a negative swing in Aston of 7% at the last federal election on a two-candidate preferred basis, reducing his margin in the seat to a slender 2.8%.
Some Liberals speculated Tudge’s departure would create an opportunity for Josh Frydenberg to return to politics, but others downplayed that possibility strongly, saying the former treasurer’s only path back was regaining the blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong from the teal independent Monique Ryan.
An emotional Tudge told parliament his decision to quit had been cemented by the recent death of his father, and was made predominantly out of concern for the welfare of his children, who “had to put up with things that no teenager should have to – including death threats”.
“While this profession can be unforgiving at times, serving as a member of parliament has been one of the greatest honours my life,” the Victorian Liberal said.
Pressure had been building on Tudge over the past couple of years. He has faced intense scrutiny over his handling of the robodebt debacle while a minister in the Morrison government, including an appearance before the royal commission last week, and because of an extra-marital relationship with one of his former advisers, Rachelle Miller.
During the grilling last week, Tudge denied he was responsible for his department’s failure to check the legality of the robodebt scheme, telling the royal commission the issue didn’t cross his mind “until I read about it in the newspaper” years later.
Miller last year secured a $650,000 settlement from the commonwealth after filing a complaint with the Department of Finance alleging she endured bullying, harassment and discrimination at work during her time on staff for Tudge and another Liberal frontbencher, Michaelia Cash.
The two former ministers denied the allegations, and no admission of liability was made by the government. Miller was in the House of Representatives chamber on Thursday when Tudge confirmed his resignation.
Colleagues had anticipated the departure was imminent when Tudge was off the air for most of the summer, absent from internal deliberations and the media.
Labor will use the opportunity of the byelection to try and snatch an additional number in the House of Representatives, but Dutton will want the result in Aston to validate his political strategy since taking the Liberal leadership of narrowcasting to outer suburban families battling cost of living pressure.
Tudge informed Anthony Albanese of his intentions on Thursday morning and the prime minister thanked the Liberal MP for choosing to announce his resignation in the chamber rather than outside it.
Albanese said when he had spoken privately to Tudge about his intentions, he had acknowledged “how difficult it is sometimes for our children, who are sometimes exposed to what should never occur, particularly at a time where people can make anonymous comments through social media”.
The prime minister said he and Tudge had political differences “including about some elements of his service”.
“There is no point gilding the lily there, and he wouldn’t want me to either, but I thank him for his service in this house,” the prime minister said.
Dutton told the chamber he had spoken to Albanese in the past about death threats that had been directed at their children. “Has there been pressure on the member for Aston? Of course there has. Has he felt that pressure, particularly with teenage girls? Absolutely.”
The opposition leader described Tudge as a friend, and said: “I can understand the decision he has made … and I wish he and his family bright days ahead.”
