Bernardi Set To Announce Split Today

Senator Cory Bernardi is set to quit the Liberal Party today. Politicians are returning to Canberra for the first sitting day of 2017.

Bernardi is expected to make a statement to the Senate this morning announcing his split. 

Senator Bernardi has controverstol ideas and in the past has questioned if same-sex marriage would lead to bestiality and has described Islam as “totalitarian, political and religious ideology,” but says he’s not racist because his issue is with the religion, not Muslims.

Bernardi’s departure comes as the Coalition  starts 2017 with its lowest level of  public support since Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull deposed Abbott.

The Coalition fell two points, putting them behind Labor 54-46 two-party preferred.