Malcolm Turnbull’s policy sales pitch a bid to undercut Tony Abbott

MALCOLM Turnbull is stepping up his pitch to voters after a damaging round of Liberal infighting, amid a growing threat from Tony Abbott.

MALCOLM Turnbull is stepping up his pitch to voters after a harmful round of Liberal infighting, while fending off a growing threat from his predecessor, Tony Abbott. Picture: Supplied

MALCOLM Turnbull is stepping up his pitch to voters after a harmful round of Liberal infighting, vowing­ to deliver “opportunity and security” in a new policy message one year after his narrow victory­ in the federal election.

The Prime Minister is hailing a “year of delivery” on schools, energ­y and national security as he embarks on a political offensive to win back voters while dodging a growing threat from his predecessor, Tony Abbott, reports The Australian.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is hailing a “year of delivery” on schools, energ­y and national security. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Moving to appease conservative colleagues, Mr Turnbull has dropped Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne from a visit to France to meet the company that will help build the next fleet of Australian submarines.

Mr Pyne was due to join the meeting with shipbuilder DCNS in Cherbourg after Mr Turnbull ­attends the G20 summit in Germany next weekend, but the Prime Minister has changed plans after the outcry over Mr Pyne’s leaked comments declaring victory for Liberal moderates over conservatives. At the same time, the Prime Minister’s office is hardening its response to the complaints from Mr Abbott over the government’s direction, seeking to portray Mr Abbott as a “wrecker” like Bill Shorten.

Government ministers hit back at Mr Abbott yesterday to dismiss his calls for a dramatic shift in the government’s direction, with one declaring he was trying to ­“rewrite history”. Picture: AP/Rick Rycroft

Mr Turnbull is avoiding any ­direct comment on Mr Abbott but is pointing to the government’s ­record of building new policies in contrast to those who seek to tear them down.

Senior government ministers hit back at Mr Abbott yesterday to dismiss his calls for a dramatic shift in the government’s direction, with one declaring he was “damaging his credibility” by trying to ­“rewrite history” over his time as prime minister.

Mr Turnbull told The Weekend Australian the government had spent the past year delivering on policies, such as the $23 billion boost to school funding legislated last week over the objections of Labor and the Greens.

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten said the Liberals “just want to fight each other.” Photographer: Liam Kidston

“We’ve delivered tax cuts for small business. We’re acting to ease the pressure on energy prices by ensuring there is adequate supply­ for the domestic gas market and we are building Snowy Hydro 2.0,” he said. “We’ve reformed childcare and introduced the Medicare Guarantee Fund.

“We have given our police and security agencies greater power and resources to keep us safe.’’

Mr Abbott today continued his calls for Liberal Party reforming, speaking to members at a forum in Sydney about the way candidates are preselected and senior positions filled.

“The tragedy is that for too long the party hierarchy has expected the rank and file to turn up, to pay up, to shut up. It’s just not right,” he said.

“We are letting ourselves down.”

The Liberal party believes in free speech, yet when someone discusses ideas in the wrong way “we expel them for god’s sake”, Mr Abbott said.

“This is just about the most illiberal thing any political party can do, and the Liberal Party in NSW is practising that day in and day out.”

He said the job of all members was to ensure the state and federal government win their next elections because the alternative is “dreadful”.

Malcolm Turnbull dropped Christopher Pyne from a visit to France after his recent comments declaring victory for Liberal moderates over conservatives. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Mr Abbott moved this week to set out an alternative manifesto for the government, including tighter immigration rules, the scrapping of the renewable energy target, ­reforms to get around Senate blockades and a pledge to “live within our means” by avoiding frivolous spending.

Mr Shorten said the Liberals “just want to fight each other” rather than govern the country.

“You almost get the sense that the rest of us are an interruption in their day when they want to beat up on each other,” he said.

This story was originally published in The Australian and is reprinted with permission.