Smith has been a supporter of Moira Deeming, who was forced onto the crossbench earlier this month
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Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, says the first he knew of longtime conservative MP Ryan Smith’s resignation was when he read a statement posted online.
After 16 years in parliament, Smith, a former leadership aspirant, announced on Wednesday he would step down from parliament on 7 July, triggering a byelection in his electorate of Warrandyte, in Melbourne’s northeast.
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