Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis has blamed ego-driven ‘bullying, betrayal and backstabbing’ by a NSW state politician from her own party for her decision to leave parliament.
Ms Sudmalis will quit at the next election, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s attempts to get more women into parliament.
The MP used parliamentary privilege on Monday to name and shame Liberal state MP Gareth Ward for his ‘narcissistic revenge’ against her.
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis has blamed ego-driven ‘bullying, betrayal and backstabbing’ by a NSW state politician from her own party for her decision to leave parliament
Gareth Ward (left) with Gladys Berejiklian (centre) and BlueScope Steel’s Australia boss Mark Vassella pose for a photograph outside the BlueScope plant at Port Kembla in 2015
‘I have decided that enough is enough,’ Ms Sudmalis told the lower house.
‘It was about ego-driven ambition, bullying and betrayal, and my local position is completely untenable.’
Mr Ward has denied the accusations.
Ms Sudmalis says she has received little or no support from the NSW state division while waiting for the preselection process during the past six months.
She also named editor of the Milton-Ulladulla Times John Hanscombe for working with Mr Ward to ‘misrepresent’ her in the media since 2012.
‘This is not the first time Gareth has flexed his vengeance on strong Liberal women,’ the NSW MP said.
‘He doesn’t just get even, he annihilates anyone who opposes him.’
She insisted her decision was not about Mr Morrison, pledging to work hard until the end of her term.
‘I will not be distracted by boys who should know better, men who know better and who do nothing, or women who are manipulated by false information.’
Ms Sudmalis holds the southern NSW coastal seat of Gilmore with a margin of just 0.7 per cent and has faced a preselection challenge from local real estate agent Grant Schultz.
AAP understands Ms Sudmalis recently engaged in a shouting match with Liberal branch members in the car park of the Bomaderry Bowling Club in her electorate.
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis (pictured), who has represented the NSW seat of Gilmore since 2013, has reportedly advised Prime Minister Scott Morrison she will not re-contest her seat at the next election
She is understood to have yelled at members who opposed her recontesting the seat.
Her decision to exit parliament comes after Victorian Liberal Julia Banks also announced she will quit at the election, while Queensland Liberal Jane Prentice is going after losing her own preselection.
Ms Sudmalis said the final straw came when her local electorate committee was rolled and replaced with inexperienced people who were hostile to her.
She had originally planned to keep her decision quiet until after the Wentworth by-election on October 20.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) said on Friday while he wants to see more Liberal women in parliament, he also believes MPs should receive their positions based on merit
The MP’s exit comes as the Liberal Party faces a backlash over its lack of commitment to preselecting women.
Only six women have been preselected for safe Liberal seats across the country.
Mr Morrison said Ms Sudmalis was a good friend who had raised ‘genuine concerns’ about her treatment in her local branch.
He’s asked the party’s federal executive to come up with a way to deal with complaints, and to ways attract more male and female candidates.