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Senator David Van resigns from party, not parliament

Liberal senator David Van (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Senator David Van has resigned from the Victorian Liberal Party a day before its administrative committee was due to meet to discuss bombshell allegations against him.

The Victorian senator resigned from the party on Saturday, claiming he had not been afforded procedural fairness over misconduct claims, but will remain in parliament.

In a letter to Victorian Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella seen by AAP, Senator Van said he could not remain a member of a party that "tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated".

"Given the Liberal Party's wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately," Senator Van said in the letter.

It followed bombshell allegations made last week by independent senator Lidia Thorpe and former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker, who both alleged Senator Van touched them inappropriately in previous years.

Senator Van denied the allegations and said he would co-operate with any investigation process.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton removed Senator Van from the Liberal party room last week and called on him to resign from the Senate.

On Friday, Mr Dutton confirmed further allegations had been brought against Senator Van.

Senator Van said he was "deeply distressed and hurt that I have not been afforded procedural fairness" in relation to the allegations against him.

"I have worked tirelessly for the party and fought hard for its beliefs over many years," he said in the letter to Mr Mirabella.

His resignation came a day before the Victorian Liberal Party's administrative committee was due to meet to further consider the allegations.

Senator Van was sworn in as a federal Liberal Party senator for Victoria in July 2019.

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