Opposition leader Angus Taylor is losing one of his most effective shadow ministers, Jonno Duniam, who will quit parliament this year, citing family reasons and “exhaustion”.

Duniam, 43, a senator for Tasmania, shadows the demanding portfolio of home affairs, and has been central in the crafting of the opposition’s immigration policy, which is still to be fully released.

Part of the conservative faction in the Liberal Party (and close to leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie), Duniam will be missed not just on the policy front. He is a good negotiator in the Senate, where he is manager of opposition business, and a strong media performer.

As a senator, he is replaced by his party, so there is no byelection.

Duniam said on Sunday, “Obviously, I acknowledge that I am leaving at a difficult time for the Coalition”.

“This was an extremely difficult decision to make – albeit that it is one I have been considering for quite some time,” he said in a statement.

He was leaving federal politics proud of what he had done and grateful for the opportunity to do it but “exhausted”.

“I have spent the past 25 years in politics, the last 10 of those as a Senator for Tasmania – and I have given everything to these responsibilities, often at the expense of family. Twenty-five years is a long time in any vocation and, when you take your role seriously, it always comes first. It is time I reversed my priorities and I can’t do that if I am to stay in........

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