Despite being one of the Liberals’ strongest performers, frontbencher Jonno Duniam is quitting politics by the end of this year – and leaving with some regrets.

Duniam, 43, is Angus Taylor’s home affairs spokesman and has been in the Senate for nearly a decade. He’s been central in the crafting of the opposition’s immigration policy, which is still to be fully released.

Duniam joined the podcast to reflect on his time in politics, the future of the Liberals, dealing with One Nation – and how his sons responded to the news of him quitting politics.

I’ve been in and around politics for 25 years, ten of those as a senator […] It means you aren’t there to help with the very basic things, like getting ready for school and packing lunches and picking up and dropping off. […] It is not a good feeling sitting in Canberra doing your job while there is an issue that needs dealing with for family. And I know that is a common issue. I’ve talked about with colleagues across the political spectrum […] This is not unique to politics [… But] when you’re 20, 25 weeks of the year away from home, it does mount up.

I’ve been in and around politics for 25 years, ten of those as a senator […] It means you aren’t there to help with the very basic things, like getting ready for school and packing lunches and picking up and dropping off.

[…] It is not a good feeling sitting in Canberra doing your job while there is an issue that needs dealing with for family. And I know that is a common issue. I’ve talked about with colleagues across the political spectrum […] This is not unique to politics [… But] when you’re 20, 25 weeks of the year away from home, it does mount up.

Duniam recounts breaking the news of his retirement to his three boys, aged 11 to 17.

I snuck out early to pick up three copies of the local newspaper in which the story was broken that I was going to be leaving politics. And I left a copy of the paper for each of my sons. And my youngest son, Spencer, got up and read it and he was heard to say, as he was flicking through the paper, ‘I never thought this day would come.’ He’s my youngest. My oldest has missed out on a lot of me being around, he’s on the verge of turning 18. And my 15 year old, I think you could only say is elated by this decision. So I know very much that I’ve made the right call, and I think those boys are going to benefit.

I snuck out early to pick up three copies of the local newspaper in which the story was broken that I was going to be leaving politics. And I left a copy of the paper for each of my sons. And my youngest son, Spencer, got up and read it and he was heard to say, as he was flicking through the paper, ‘I never thought this day would come.’ He’s my youngest.

My oldest has missed out on a lot of me being around, he’s on the verge of turning 18. And........

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