Liberal Senator Jane Hume has denied her high-profile axing had anything to do with work-from-home policies, after she was sacked from the shadow ministry by new party leader, Sussan Ley.
Hume, a firebrand name in the party and one of its few female stars, served as former shadow finance minister.
Victorian senator Sarah Henderson was also dumped from the frontbench.
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Hume openly backed Angus Taylor for the leadership, which many believe could be one of the reasons for her axing, an accusation which Ley has publicly denied.
“She is an enormously talented, fantastic member of this team who has contributed amazingly over her political career [and] will continue to do so,” Ley told media.
On Friday, Sunrise host Nat Barr questioned Hume over her axing.
“If you’re asking me whether I feel hurt or slighted by this move from Sussan, of course it hurts,” Hume said.
“It hurts professionally because I was a hard-working and prolific member of the frontbench in the previous Opposition. It hurts personally, too, because you know, Sussan and I are friends.”
Hume explained she would focus on her ability to make a difference in Parliament.
“This isn’t the playground. This is the Parliament. I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to make a difference.
“I’m here to fight for the future of your kids, my kids, their kids, for freedom and choice and personal responsibility, and reward for effort, and the importance of small business, and the dangers of big government.
“I will continue to do that every day from whatever position I am in.
“And, in fact, there is something very liberating about being on the backbench and being able to speak without having to stick to the party line, and without having to stick to talking points.
“That’s certainly going to make for much more interesting Sunrise interviews.”
Hume went on to back Ley’s leadership and call for party unity.
“The most important thing we can all do here now is get behind Sussan Ley, put our shoulders to the wheel. Because there’s a very big task ahead of us.
“Not only to win back the hearts and minds and votes of Australians but also to hold this terrible government to account, and that’s exactly what I am going to be doing every day, and every single one of my colleagues are going to be doing every day.
“As my very wise mother would say, ‘stop your nonsense, chin up, chest out, straighten your tiara and let’s get on with the job’.”