Curtains!

That’s it for the live blog on the first sitting day of 2017. It was a day dominated by Cory Bernardi, the self-proclaimed “lone wolf” from Adelaide’s leafy eastern suburbs.

The Senator confirmed he has quit the Liberal Party and will establish his own party, Australian Conservatives. He said the decision had "weighed heavily on his heart".

There will be more fallout from Cory Bernardi's defection and we'll bring you the latest online. Stephanie Anderson will be back with you tomorrow morning for another day. Thanks for joining us, as always.