Julia Banks' extraordinary decision to resign as a Liberal MP and plunge the Morrison Government further into minority sends a devastating message to voters that the Liberal Party is hostile to women.

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It's the message she wanted to send.

The narrative that the conservative side of politics has become anti-women has been bolstered by a range of female voices both on and off the record who have been agitating for change.

Until now we have heard strong words, but little action from those who have spoken out against bullying, intimidation and a broader culture problem inside the governing party. Ms Banks' move to the crossbench sends a signal that the crisis she identifies inside the Liberal Party — including the actions and ideas of the so called "reactionaries" — is so profound she is prepared to be accused of being a traitor and a political rat to deliver her point.

MPs from the right and the moderate wings are angry with Ms Banks for robbing the party of "clear air" at a time when it needs it most. There's a strong view she should have stayed in the tent to argue for change rather than thrown a political bomb with uncertain consequences.

But equally, most are unsurprised. Last week, even before the Victorian election, there was concern in the highest levels of government that she would drop a bombshell. And she has. With precision.

Liberals seen as 'homophobic, anti-women'

Sorry, this video has expired Is the level of Liberal women in Parliament lower now than it was in 1996?

There is open despair among MPs. One told me candidly that sometimes he wishes a no confidence motion was successful to "put us out of our misery" early and force a general election. It was a shocking admission which reveals the next level dysfunction MPs believe the Government is in.

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Some Liberal Party moderates privately say Ms Banks' decision reinforces a view they argue is growing in the electorate: that the Liberal Party is out of touch with modern Australia and that women are unwelcome in its ranks.

It is a view that is politically toxic and threatens to do further and lasting damage to an already fragile government.

The rationale Ms Banks articulated for taking the decision to resign is one echoed internally by Women's Minister Kelly O'Dwyer.

Ms O'Dwyer told her colleagues that Liberals are regarded as "homophobic, anti-women, climate-change deniers" during a crisis meeting of federal Victorian MPs.

That view is supported by former Liberal senator Judith Troeth who told the ABC she thought Ms O'Dwyer was brave to identify this sentiment from voters.

Ms Troeth says the party has sent voters this message because it has failed to preselect women and has entrenched the idea in the electorate that it is therefore antagonistic to women.

Bishop drops the mic on Twitter

On Twitter, former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has joined Ms Banks in staring down attacks, including that conservative women can't "cut it" in politics.

One Twitter user wrote, "Julie, beginning to wonder if conservative women can cut it being in politics. You as the women, are all on an agenda to destroy, and you, Julie Bishop may just be the poison dart in the background."

She responded: "After 20 years in Parliament and over half of that time as deputy leader of our party, I think I can 'cut it'."

Another mic drop tweet, ended with her signature emoji.

Ms Banks chimed in: "After 20 years as a corporate lawyer, General Counsel, Company Director etc and more recently in politics ... I can cut it too #MeToo."

No evidence female numbers will improve

With Ms Banks moving to the crossbench, just 12 of the 74 Coalition lower house politicians are women. Government MPs say their numbers are impossible to defend.

The startling underrepresentation of women in the federal party is acknowledged by the right and the left as being abysmal. But still there is no evidence that those numbers will improve.

The party has now lost a woman that Ms Bishop describes as a "strong, sensible centre female politician in our party".

The resignation from the government benches not only plunges the Morrison Government further into minority, it puts a giant spotlight onto the gender issues inside the party. The fact that Ms Banks now sits among a group of independent female MPs makes that imagery even more potent.

The timing of Ms Banks' resignation came on the same day that re-elected Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled his new 50 per cent female cabinet.

'Blinkered rejection of quotas and the merit myth'

Anticipating the angry internal backlash at her shock decision, Ms Banks talked about the response women who call out bad behaviour receive.

"Often, when good women call out or are subject to bad behaviour, the reprisals, backlash and commentary portrays them as the bad ones — the liar, the troublemaker, the emotionally unstable or weak."

She now joins other independents who she says she identifies with.

And those crossbenches are female and represent seats in the Coalition's heartland. Kerryn Phelps. Rebecca Sharkie. Cathy McGowan. And now Julia Banks.

"Equal representation of men and women in this Parliament is an urgent imperative which will create a culture change," she told the chamber.

"There's the blinkered rejection of quotas and the merit myth, but this is more than a numbers game. Across both major parties, the level of regard and respect for women in politics is years behind the business world.

"There is also a clear need for an independent and whistle-blower system as found in many workplaces to enable reporting of misconduct of those in power without fear of reprisal or retribution."

Banks said the signature characteristics of Australian women were "resilience and a strong, authentic, independent spirit".

Banks has left herself the option of running as an independent at the next federal election and is positioning among the range of female independents who have cultivated support in traditionally Conservative electorates.

She may yet choose to replicate their model.