Countless interviews, a lengthy press conference, a resignation speech in the Senate – and Cory Bernardi still can't convince some people why he quit the Liberal Party.
The newly minted independent clashed with Today host Karl Stefanovic on Wednesday, challenged over what took him so long to "man up" and announce his plans to form a new Australian Conservatives party.
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What colleagues think of Bernardi
With Cory Bernardi set to quit the Liberals to form a conservative party, MPs aren't holding back when it comes to what they think of his decision.
Stefanovic's questions echoed those of many in Canberra and Australia this week, as Senator Bernardi was unable to explain personality or policy differences that led him to leave the Liberal Party after 30 years, including 10 years in the Senate.
"I've come to the realisation that party politics, major party politics, is failing the Australian people and you just have to look at the evidence all around us," he said.
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"We've got to do a better job. So I've come to the conclusion there's a better way and it's a way built around enduring principles that have stood us in good stead and will stand our children in good stead. We need to see more of it."
Stefanovic pushed back, challenging the South Australian to name a piece of government legislation he was opposed to.
"People were talking about this for months. Again, what took you so long to man up," the host demanded to know.
Senator Bernardi said he'd hoped to rebuild and strengthened the Liberal Party from within but had reached the conclusion it was on "a spiral downwards".
"I've been joined at the hip with the Liberal Party for 30 years. This is a very tough call for me, it's tough for my colleagues and my friends and supporters in the Liberal Party. I know that it's difficult."
After the new crossbencher nominated the government's dumped plans to consider of a market-based emissions reduction scheme in late-2016 and any increase in taxes, Stefanovic tried again, asking why he couldn't name a single policy he was opposed to and why the outspoken critic of Malcolm Turnbull wouldn't quit the Senate.
"Ideas matter in politics," Senator Bernardi said.
"What I have realised ultimately I've been battling within the party against the very forces that try and subdue the very forces that try and subdue the real principles.
"Why has it been left to me to say that tax rises are wrong? Big government spending programs are wrong? Against the philosophy of the party. I shouldn't have to go into battle against the very ideas that the Liberal Party was founded upon all the time. That's the real challenge."
Challenged over his dislike of Prime Minister, Senator Bernardi said he would not play "the personality game" or reveal details of his conversations with Mr Turnbull on Tuesday.
"I'm happy to work with anyone," he said.
"I understand full well the disappointment that many people feel in this space. I have got to do what is in the best interests of the nation in the long run."
For his part, Mr Turnbull called on his former colleague to quit the Senate and allow the seat to remain with the Liberals.
"The honourable thing for Cory to do is to resign from the Senate and then run again at the next election as an independent or under his new party," he said on Wednesday.
Emboldened by Donald Trump's stunning victory in last year's US presidential election, Senator Bernardi has confirmed he plans to recruit candidates to stand at the next federal election.
Just how much of a role ego and vision played in his long anticipated defection is yet to be seen but the South Australian is already positioning himself as outside the Canberra establishment and political class.
He's outside the tent now, and a very complicated 2017 just got more difficult for the Coalition.
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