Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull follow Instagram account dedicated to voting out Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull, his wife Lucy and their son Alex have thrown their support behind a new campaign dedicated to voting Tony Abbott out of his northern beaches seat of Warringah.
Malcolm Turnbull has thrown his support behind a new campaign dedicated to kicking Tony Abbott out of his prized northern beaches seat.
Mr Turnbull, his wife Lucy and son Alex have all followed on Instagram the Vote Tony Out page, which posts photos of Warringah residents opposed to Mr Abbott and links to a website selling anti-Abbott merchandise.
The move comes just weeks after Mr Turnbull accused Mr Abbott of plotting against his leadership on Q&A and blasted former prime ministers Mr Abbott and Kevin Rudd as “miserable ghosts” in New York.
“Warringah and its citizens, why we don’t like Tony Abbott, one story at a time,” the Vote Tony Out page reads in its mission statement.
One post includes a picture of former champion surfer Layne Beachley — who was raised in Manly — saying why she wants to oust Mr Abbott from the blue ribbon seat of Warringah.
“Our community, our environment and our nation deserves better,” Ms Beachley says on the post.
“It’s time to let go of the past, embrace the tides of change and focus on delivering a positive future.”
The Instagram page was founded by Manly surf business owner Mark Kelly, 54, who said he was surprised to see the Turnbulls follow the account.
“I had a pretty big smile on my face,” Mr Kelly said.
“I just think it says he’s a person who probably is not a big fan of Tony Abbott … but what counts is the people of Warringah, I think Malcolm is just another person looking at (the situation).”
Mr Kelly said he founded the page as a part time hobby “to start people having conversations”.
“We’re a little disappointed in Tony Abbott as our local member and we decided to do something about it,” he said.
The page has already gained hundreds of followers after launching on Monday.
In his Q&A appearance two weeks ago, Mr Turnbull blasted conservative Liberals who he said plotted against his leadership.
“The people who chose to act in a very self-destructive way to blow-up the government, they need to really explain why they did it and none of them have,” he said.
“I think it was crazy. It was pointless. Nobody has actually set out the reasons for it. Scott Morrison, the new prime minster, can’t explain it. There’s some issues there.
“I think Australians are entitled to know the answer. Every member of parliament should be accountable for what they do.
“It is actually quite painful to talk about, particularly when you don’t have the answers.”
Mr Turnbull and Mr Abbott have both endured a bitter rivalry that stretches back years.
Mr Abbott seized the Liberal leadership from Mr Turnbull in 2009 before Mr Turnbull reclaimed the top job in 2015.
“From my point of view, I had a justification which I was open about, an economic agenda and taking a more positive, inclusive approach to our society, but the bottom line is I delivered on it,” Mr Turnbull said on Q&A.
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