# Departing Liberal MP Jonno Duniam Weighs Mixed Emotions on Exit from Parliament
Jonno Duniam, a frontbench Liberal MP, expressed conflicting feelings about stepping down from parliament, describing his departure as tinged with both guilt and relief. Speaking with Michelle Grattan for The Conversation, the longtime legislator reflected on the emotional complexity of leaving elected office after years of service.
Duniam criticized his party's willingness to negotiate with One Nation, calling such discussions "mad" when conducted so far from a federal election. His comments highlight growing tensions within the Coalition over coalition-building strategies and party discipline during the lengthy parliamentary cycle.
The departing MP did not outline specific policy grievances but focused on the personal dimensions of his decision to quit. Duniam's mixed assessment reflects a broader pattern among Australian politicians who exit office citing both exhaustion from the legislative grind and unfinished business they leave behind.
His criticism of early One Nation negotiations suggests disagreement over the Coalition's political positioning and electoral strategy. One Nation, Pauline Hanson's populist party, has emerged as a kingmaker in several Australian federal parliaments, complicating Coalition governance and forcing difficult negotiations on legislative priorities.
Duniam's departure removes another experienced Liberal voice from the House of Representatives, continuing a trend of senior Coalition members leaving parliament. The timing and nature of such exits influence party morale and provide openings for new legislators to enter the chamber.
The interview with Grattan explores how modern politics demands constant negotiation and deal-making that extends far beyond election campaigns. Duniam's comments indicate frustration with the perpetual campaign cycle and the strategic calculations that drive coalition building in contemporary Australian politics.