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Christian Porter’s sorrowful departure from politics warrants no sympathy, says shadow Treasurer

Helena BurkeNCA NewsWire
Jim Chalmers said there was unlikely to be much sympathy for Mr Porter’s self-pitying Facebook post. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
Camera IconJim Chalmers said there was unlikely to be much sympathy for Mr Porter’s self-pitying Facebook post. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

Christian Porter’s self-pitying Facebook post announcing his resignation from politics has been slammed by shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who says Mr Porter deserves no sympathy from the Australian public.

Mr Porter on Wednesday declared he would be stepping down from parliament at the next election.

The former Attorney-General issued a parting shot about there being “no limits” to what people will say about politicians.

“This week … I made the decision that I will not recontest the seat of Pearce at the next federal election,” Mr Porter wrote.

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“There are few, if any, constants left in modern politics.

“Perhaps the only certainty now is that there appears to be no limit to what some will say or allege or do to gain an advantage over a perceived enemy.

“This makes the harshness that can accompany the privilege of representing people, harder than ever before.”

But Dr Chalmers brushed off Mr Porter’s jab at the treatment of politicians when asked about the Facebook post on Thursday.

“I don’t think there’ll be a lot of sympathy for that view, to be frank about it,” Dr Chalmers told Radio National.

“Clearly, we need to make politics more meaningful and a better place for people to work, something that people aspire to work in.

“But I’m not sure there’ll be lots of sympathy for Christian Porter and his Facebook post.

Anthony Albanese Presser
Camera IconJim Chalmers said there was unlikely to be much sympathy for Mr Porter’s self-pitying Facebook post. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

Mr Porter came under fire in March 2021 after revealing he was the government Minister accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 1988.

The woman who alleged the rape died by suicide in 2020, and her statement was sent anonymously to the Prime Minister and several other MPs in February 2021.

Mr Porter confirmed he met the woman in Sydney when he was 17, but denied having any sexual contact with her.

He took leave from his role as Attorney-General, insisting his mental health had been destroyed through a “trial by media” over the scandal.

Mr Porter’s character was again called into question in September 2021 after it was revealed an anonymous donor was paying his legal fees in a defamation case against the ABC.

Despite calls for him to release the names of the donors, Mr Porter claimed he had no access to information about the conduct and funding of the blind trust.

Instead of revealing the details, he opted to resign from the ministry and receded to the backbench.

Despite his harsh parting shot to life in federal politics, Mr Porter insisted he had no regrets about his career.

“I feel that not a moment of the last 14 years was wasted and I am thankful for the opportunity and friendship provided by my Parliamentary colleagues,” he wrote.

“Even though I have experienced perhaps more of the harshness of modern politics than most, there are no regrets.”

Originally published as Christian Porter’s sorrowful departure from politics warrants no sympathy, says shadow Treasurer

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