South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi has announced his resignation from the Liberal Party and spoken about his plans to create his own party.

“This morning I resigned as a member of the Liberal party,” Senator Bernardi informed the house, “After a membership spanning my entire adult life, having been a State President and a federal Vice-President on the party, this has been a very difficult decision for me.”

Senator Bernardi said he was both reluctant and relieved to be breaking away from the Liberal party saying the seas through which we sail had become evermore challenging and he could no longer agree with the current positions of his party.

“The seas through which we sail become evermore challenging and the respect for the values and principles that have served as well seem to have been set aside for expedient, self serving, short term ends, that approach has not served our nation well.”

Senator Bernardi said politicians were failing the Australian people who had lost respect for politics, and the political class were out of touch with the people’s hopes and aspirations.

Citing the public’s lack of confidence in the major parties had led him to seek a better way, saying that he was against the rise of “personality politics”.

“For may years I’ve warned against the consequences of ignoring the clear signs, “Senator Bernardi said, “I’ve spoken about the need to restore faith in our political system and the need to put principle back into politics. I regret that too often these warning have been ignored by those who needed to hear them, it really is time for a better way, a conservative way.”

Senator Bernardi said his new movement would be a place for conservative Australians that would give hope to people who despair at the current state of politics.

“A community of conservative Australians who will share their unique gifts and talents to chart a better way for our nation. We will be united by our desire to create stronger families, to foster free enterprise, to limit the size, and scope and reach of government, while seeking to rebuilding confidence in civil society.”

Graeme Watson