Senator Jonno Duniam Announces His Impending Resignation from Politics
Liberal Party senator Jonno Duniam has announced his resignation from politics by the end of 2026. After a decade of service, Duniam cites the need to prioritize his family, while also reflecting on the party's ongoing strategy and immigration policy challenges.
Highlights
- •Jonno Duniam, a prominent Liberal senator, is resigning from politics by the end of 2026.
- •The decision is driven by a desire to prioritize family commitments after ten years of service.
- •Duniam noted that the party has begun showing signs of recovery under Angus Taylor’s leadership.
- •He remains focused on finalizing the Coalition's immigration policy before officially stepping down from the Senate.
Senior Liberal Party senator and frontbencher Jonno Duniam has announced his decision to step down from his position in politics by the end of this year. At 43, the home affairs spokesman has served in the Senate for nearly a decade and has played a significant role in developing the opposition’s stance on immigration. His resignation marks a notable departure for the party, as he is widely regarded as one of its most effective performers.
Reflecting on his tenure, Jonno Duniam noted that the intense demands of his political career have frequently conflicted with his responsibilities as a father to his three sons, aged 11 to 17. He described the difficulty of balancing long periods away in Canberra—often up to 25 weeks annually—with the essential daily tasks of family life. He emphasized that while this pressure is common across the political spectrum, the decision to prioritize his family was a necessary step after ten years of dedicated service.
Addressing Political Challenges and Future Directions
Despite acknowledging some guilt over leaving colleagues during a demanding time for the Liberal Party, Duniam denied that his exit is tied to the current poor polling numbers. The opposition has struggled to gain traction against Labor and One Nation in recent surveys. He admitted that the party remained stagnant for roughly nine months following the 2025 election, but he believes current leader Angus Taylor is now successfully providing the necessary momentum to win back voter support.
Regarding speculation about future coalition efforts or preference deals with One Nation, Duniam dismissed these suggestions as unwise. He maintained that the focus should remain on developing clear, inclusive policies that address the concerns of all Australians rather than engaging in early strategic maneuvering that could be perceived as desperate or misaligned with the party’s values.
As he prepares for his departure, Duniam is committed to finalizing the Coalition’s immigration policy. He acknowledged the complexity of the immigration debate and the risk of it becoming divisive. His goal is to craft a plan that effectively communicates the party's intentions to the public, ensuring that the discourse centers on substantive issues rather than headlines. Although he observed that the modern political environment—often referred to by the public as being populated by "clowns in Canberra"—makes it challenging to attract new, young talent, he remains hopeful that dedicated individuals will continue to step forward. He concluded by expressing that, despite its challenges, representing Tasmania in the Senate has been an immense privilege.
