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Tony Abbott leadership challenge

...'there will be no recriminations in the aftermath of the failed spill motion' eh Tony?... you're such a man of your word aren't you mate?... "scapegoating of Godzilla proportions"... and that's from one of his own minsters!...happy days ahead... Tony will fall soon in my opinion...the next budget better be a good one methinks!... cheers.


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PM Tony Abbott's decision to sack Philip Ruddock 'scapegoating of Godzilla proportions' says MP
By Susan McDonald and Naomi Woodley
February 14, 2015, 11:19 am


The Prime Minister's decision to sack Philip Ruddock as chief whip has sparked a fresh round of internal bickering, with one MP saying the so-called Father of the House has been made a "scapegoat" following this week's leadership vote.

Tony Abbott surprised his colleagues late yesterday by announcing he had removed Mr Ruddock from the key position.

Some of Mr Abbott's supporters believe Mr Ruddock did not do enough to publicly rally support for the Prime Minister and should have done a better job of picking up on backbench disquiet in the weeks leading up to the failed attempt to spill the leadership.

But some MPs who wanted a spill are bewildered and confused by Mr Ruddock's sacking - one saying "the night of the long knives has begun".

Others described it as "another captain's call" that had gone down badly within the party.

Queensland backbencher Andrew Laming has gone public with his criticism, describing it as "scapegoating of Godzilla proportions".

But Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr Laming had "ulterior motives" given he supported the spill motion.

Mr Frydenberg rejected suggestions the Prime Minister's decision was retribution and said he spoke to Mr Ruddock this morning.

"He understands that this is a decision for the leader to take," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.

"I think this is a decision that is just within the normal course of what happens within government."

Mr Ruddock is not commenting about the decision, except to say the position of chief whip is the gift of the Prime Minister.

Nikolic says deputy whip position not a reward
Mr Ruddock, who is known as the "Father of the House" for being the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, will be replaced by Queensland MP Scott Buchholz.

Tasmanian MP Andrew Nikolic, a prominent supporter of the Prime Minister, will also be promoted to a whip position.

He said he did not see it as a reward for publicly urging his colleagues against a spill.

"The reason I did that was not for any reward, but to say to my colleagues that the last thing we should be doing is demonstrating the sort of disunity that the Australian people comprehensively rejected," Mr Nikolic said.

Mr Frydenberg has welcomed the appointments.

"In Scott Buchholz we have a very good man who will be our new whip, and Andrew Nikolic as a deputy who's also very experienced in rounding up the troops if you like," Mr Frydenberg said.

Mr Abbott is known to have great respect for Mr Ruddock and he paid tribute in a statement confirming the changes Friday afternoon.

"I acknowledge and thank the Hon Philip Ruddock MP for his extraordinary contribution to our country, this Government and the Liberal Party," Mr Abbott wrote.

"As Father of the House, Philip has given over four decades of service to the Australian Parliament and the Australian people.

"He was a senior minister throughout the life of the Howard government and was shadow cabinet secretary in opposition.

"Later this year he will become the second longest-serving parliamentarian in our history."

The move had been under discussion for more than a day.

The two men met after Parliament rose on Thursday.
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The thing is, why are people, back benchers, the press or the public surprised that Abbott is acting like Abbott.

This is the guy they chose as their party leader. This is the guy the Australian people chose to elect. People chose to ignore he's an arrogant, ideologue, bully dickhead that has no room for other opinions or facts counter to his opinions. Yeah they should get rid of him and put someone else in the job and change direction. It's the best thing for everyone. Just don't sit there and act that Abbott surprised everyone. The party chose him as a leader because he was such a dickhead. The Australian people were let down by the media who, but ultimately Abbott has had a long political history where everything he is doing is exactly how he has always been.


I'm also sick of people who seem to think our government and democracy is voting in a dictator for three years. Leader is a major part of elections, but it is more democratic for the party to put someone more popular in than Abbott who will enact policies that are more preferred by the Australian people. Not to have Abbott get in, run the country like a dictator and run the government in a way that is completely contrary to the platforms he used to get elected. Who then lied back then and constantly lies now.

The worry is, Abbott is a man who when at university joined the student council under false pretenses and with the sole purpose of undermining and destroying it. This is what he is trying to do to PM with our country. He has extreme right wing beliefs which are unshakable in any way. He believes he can get in, destroy everything he doesn't like about the way modern Australia works. Whether it is social programs, universal health, brownish people, public broadcaster, education, science, environment and all sorts of policies designed to help his free market, corporations over people. Come in like a wrecking ball that'll be hard to reverse.
 
The ABC is reporting that Abbott is due to give a press conference in about 5 minutes.
 
I abhor Abbott as much as the next and I actually do like Turnbull, but consistency in leadership is probably the best thing for the country. I'd love to wipe that smug onion eating grin off his face so bad, but I guess if he stays in it should be the final nail in coalitions coffin.

Oh... but does that mean Bill Shorten becomes PM? Crap...
 
jessy_girl said:
I abhor Abbott as much as the next and I actually do like Turnbull, but consistency in leadership is probably the best thing for the country. I'd love to wipe that smug onion eating grin off his face so bad, but I guess if he stays in it should be the final nail in coalitions coffin.

Oh... but does that mean Bill Shorten becomes PM? Crap...
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Exactly.
Turnbull is our best chance at a half way decent leader.
Australia needs to get its shit together witj politics.
 
Yeah I agree Jessy that this is the worst thing for the party.

I think this will hurt Turnbull if he loses, I used to want him as PM. Not now and not in this way.
 
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