Julia Banks
Julia Banks | |
---|---|
Member of the Australian Parliament for Chisholm | |
In office 2 July 2016 – 11 April 2019 | |
Preceded by | Anna Burke |
Succeeded by | Gladys Liu |
Personal details | |
Born | Julia Helen Lolatgis Victoria, Australia |
Political party | Independent (2018–present) Liberal (2016–18) |
Alma mater | Monash University |
Julia Helen Banks is an Australian lawyer and politician. Elected as the member for
Early life
Banks was born and raised in Melbourne. Her parents are both of Greek heritage and her father migrated to Australia from Greece as a 15-year-old. She studied Arts and Law at Monash University, graduating in 1984 and 1986, respectively.[7] She has graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Banks worked as a lawyer in private practice principally in litigation and then joined Hoechst Australia Limited as Corporate Counsel.
Political career
Banks was elected to the
Since her election, Banks has served on two standing committees of the House, dealing with Economics and Social Policy and Legal Affairs. She became chair of the latter committee in February 2018.[7]
Citizenship controversy
In July 2017, Banks' Greek heritage led to her being one of several members of parliament to come under scrutiny over the possibility that they held another citizenship by descent. Dual citizens are generally ineligible to be elected or sit as a member of parliament under section 44 of the Australian Constitution. The Liberal Party moved to investigate and clarify Banks' citizenship status, as her seat in the House of Representatives was critical to the Turnbull government's one-seat majority. The Liberal Party later stated that it confirmed with the Greek Embassy in Australia that Banks is not registered as a Greek citizen.
Advocacy
In October 2017, Banks re-confirmed her support for
In May 2018, during a radio discussion of Newstart unemployment allowance, she was called "out of touch" after she said she could live on $40 a day leading to calls for her to be challenged to do so.[10]
Departure from Liberal Party
In August 2018, following the
Morrison subsequently expressed concern for Banks' welfare, promised to stamp out bullying within the Liberal party,
On 27 November 2018, Banks announced in a speech on the floor of the
On 31 January 2019 Banks announced that she would challenge health minister, and former Liberal Party colleague, Greg Hunt as an independent at the federal election later that year, seeking to win the seat of Flinders.[6] She received around 14% of the primary vote, ranking third amongst all candidates in the seat, thus not being reelected to parliament.[23]
In July 2021 her memoir, Power Play: Breaking Through Bias, Barriers and Boys' Clubs, was published by Hardie Grant and reviewed for The Sydney Morning Herald by Jenna Price.[24]
In October 2021 Banks was named as an advisor for climate fund, Climate 200.[25]
References
- ^ a b Green, Antony (22 July 2016). "Electorate: Chisholm". Federal Election 2016 – Australia Votes. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b Keen, Lucille (3 July 2016). "Chisholm the only seat Liberals able to snatch". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b Anderson, Stephanie (16 December 2015). "Former speaker Anna Burke calls it quits, will not recontest seat at next election". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Karp, Paul (29 August 2018). "Liberal MP Julia Banks to quit parliament, citing 'bullying and intimidation'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Crowe, David (27 November 2018). "Morrison government shock: Julia Banks quits the Liberal Party to sit on the crossbench". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Julia Banks to challenge former colleague Greg Hunt for Flinders at next election". ABC News. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ms Julia Banks MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Banks, Julia (24 October 2017). "Liberal MP: this is why I'm campaigning for 'Yes'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Julia Banks MP". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ Iggulden, Tom (3 May 2018). "Liberal backbencher Julia Banks challenged to live on Youth Allowance payments after 'insulting' comments". ABC News. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Brown, Greg (29 August 2018). "Liberal MP Julia Banks to resign at next federal election". The Australian. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b Banks, Julia [@juliabanksmp] (29 August 2018). "STATEMENT" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Banks, Julia (2 July 2021). "'Shut up and take your HRT': ex-MP Julia Banks on Canberra's boys' club". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021.
When Julia Banks transitioned from a successful corporate career into federal politics, she was shocked to find sexism and backroom skulduggery still running rife
- ^ O'Dwyer, Kelly [@KellyODwyer] (29 August 2018). "Julia Banks is my neighbour in the seat of Chisholm. She is a terrific member of the Liberal team and a good friend. Bullying in any workplace, whether on the shopfloor, or in our nation's Parliament, is totally unacceptable" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Crowe, David (29 August 2018). "'The last straw': Furious MP Julia Banks to quit Parliament over the axing of Malcolm Turnbull". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- SBS News. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b Doran, Matthew; Sweeney, Lucy (29 August 2018). "Liberal MP Julia Banks not contesting next federal election, says leadership spill was 'the last straw'". ABC News. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "Malcolm Turnbull asked to see who wanted him out – here are the Liberal MPs that signed on". ABC News. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b Farr, Malcolm (29 August 2018). "Heavy-handedness leads to Liberals' house of cards collapse". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Julia Banks quits Liberal party and says it has abandoned 'sensible centrist values'". The Guardian. 27 November 2018.
- ^ "ParlInfo - STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE : Member for Chisholm". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Women rally behind Banks after MP quits party over 'regressive right'". ABC News. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ Martin, Sarah (22 May 2019). "Julia Banks bows out of politics with parting shot at 'haters'". The Guardian Australia.
- ^ Price, Jenna (16 July 2021). "Surviving the low-life gropers of Federal Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ "Former Liberal MP Julia Banks will join Climate 200 group to support independents". the Guardian. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.