Julia Banks accuses Scott Morrison of ‘menacing, controlling’ behaviour

A female MP says Scott Morrison’s “menacing, controlling” behaviour was partly behind her decision to quit the Liberal Party.

Former MP Julia Banks announced she would leave parliament in the wake of an August 2018 leadership coup against Malcolm Turnbull, claiming federal politics was wracked by a culture of bullying and intimidation of women.

She moved to the crossbench three months later, arguing the Liberal Party had abandoned its “sensible centrist values” and was beholden to its extreme right wing elements.

In an interview to be broadcast on Monday evening, Ms Banks told 7.30 that she took the decision after a vicious reaction from colleagues, including Mr Morrison.

“At the time I thought I’m challenging him, and that was his response; his response was to drag me through this sort of sexist spectrum narrative, that I was this weak, overemotional woman to the bully bitch,” she said.

“That narrative was played all the way through that three months.”

Ms Banks claimed she was offered a three-month stint as a delegate to the United Nations in New York that she argued was an attempt by Mr Morrison to silence her.

“I described him as like a menacing, controlling wallpaper,” she said.

“He was either doing it through his emissaries or directly. He wanted me silenced, he wanted me to be quiet … I mean, he wanted me out of the country.”

A spokesperson for Mr Morrison said the Prime Minister “absolutely rejects” Ms Banks’s characterisation of their conversations.

“The Prime Minister was disappointed in Ms Banks’s decision to quit the parliamentary party and had several conversations with her to understand what she was going through to see what support could be offered before she made her decision,” they said.

“That included support for personal leave so she could take the time to recover from the upset many people suffered during that period. Several of Ms Banks’ colleagues had similar conversations.”

Ms Banks’s soon-to-be released book outlines her experiences in Parliament House, which she frames as a haven for toxic behaviour and sexual harassment.

She alleged a cabinet minister ran his hand up her leg before a parliamentary vote.

Mr Morrison’s spokesperson said he was “not aware” of any sexual harassment allegations made by Ms Banks.

“Any such behaviour is completely inappropriate. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their workplace, and the work currently under way by Kate Jenkins will continue to improve parliament’s workplace culture,” they said.

It comes after federal politics was rocked by a series of allegations regarding men’s mistreatment of women, ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in a ministerial office by a colleague and felt forced to choose between filing a police complaint and keeping her job.

It was revealed a senior cabinet minister had also been accused of a historical rape, though police were unable to launch an investigation after the alleged victim took her own life.

The minister was soon revealed to be Christian Porter, who denied the allegation.