Wollongong-based Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has announced her resignation.
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Senator Fierravanti-Wells wrote to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday afternoon to tender her resignation as Minister for International Development and the Pacific – on what has been a tumultuous day in the nation’s Parliament.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells used her resignation letter to take aim at the PM, saying “our conservative base strongly feel that their voice has been eroded”.
“Following the Bennelong election, I made comments publicly about concerns that the party was moving too far to the left and that we were losing our conservative base," she said in the letter.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said she suggested “some months ago” that Peter Dutton should replace Julie Bishop as deputy Liberal leader.
“I believe this would have been an important move for stability and would help to neutralise some of the more strident criticisms,” she said.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells is one of four Liberal frontbenchers to offer their resignations since Mr Dutton’s failed leadership challenge.
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar offered his resignation after voting for Mr Dutton in the spill, along with Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath.
Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor has also tendered his resignation.
Mr Turnbull beat Mr Dutton in the leadership battle 48 votes to 35.