Senator Cory Bernardi to criticise major parties for 'falsehoods, spin' in National Press Club address

Updated

Outspoken Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi plans to call for a radical change to modern politics saying voters are sick of "excuses, falsehoods and spin".

The ABC has learned the South Australian Senator will speak at the National Press Club in July to address what he says is a global trend of disenfranchised voters abandoning the major parties.

His criticisms will be seen as a jibe at his own government, which Labor is attacking for breaking promises.

Senator Bernardi says voters are falling out with the major parties and unless there is change, politicians will learn the hard way.

"I see Australian politics at a crossroads," Senator Bernardi told the ABC.

"The perception of politicians has never been lower and it is clear to me that people are looking for more from their political representatives.

"They are sick of the excuses, the falsehoods and the spin. They want more principle in their politicians.

"Politics is in need of serious reform - it can either be initiated by the political class or ultimately it will be imposed by our political masters, the people," he said.

Senator Bernardi says he has been closely monitoring politics abroad and sees similarities between the rise of the Palmer United Party and independents in Australia to the growth of UK Independence Party (UKIP) in Britain.

"Overseas we see voters turning away from politics as usual and searching for a different approach," he said.

"We need to have a serious discussion about the factors that are causing this disenchantment and seek to redress them – in the community and in political parties."

Bernardi on the outer

Senator Bernardi argues a "silent majority" in the Australian community are the modern day equivalent of the Menzies-era "forgotten people", "the large group of Australians who don't see politicians dealing with the issues they think are important".

Senator Bernardi was once a close confidante of the Prime Minister, serving as Tony Abbott's shadow parliamentary secretary in opposition.

But the South Australian Senator has been gradually isolated from the executive ever since he was demoted by Mr Abbott for a speech he gave to the Senate during a debate on same sex marriage, which he opposes.

In that speech, he said legalising marriage between gays and lesbians could lead to acceptance of polygamy and bestiality.

Since the Coalition came to government, Senator Bernardi made headlines when he published his book The Conservative Revolution in which he labelled women who have abortions as "pro-death".

More recently, he has attacked some of his government's budget measures, including the deficit levy to be imposed on high-income earners and the cuts to the ABC's budget, which he believes did not go far enough.

Senator Bernardi will address the National Press Club in Canberra on July 17.

Topics: political-parties, government-and-politics, liberals, canberra-2600, australia

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