Protesters attempt to surprise Tony Abbott at Middle Harbour only to find that he isn’t there
DOZENS of protesters wielding picket signs ascended upon the Middle Harbour Yacht Club on Wednesday night to tell ‘wounded’ Tony Abbott what they thought of his climate policy — but there was one problem they didn’t account for.
Manly
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DOZENS of protesters wielding picket signs ascended upon the Middle Harbour Yacht Club on Wednesday night to tell Tony Abbott what they thought of his climate policy.
The only problem was the Warringah MP was nowhere to be seen.
The former Prime Minister was listed as a speaker at the Mosman club, according to anti-Abbott group, the People of Warringah.
And while they made their voices heard to Mr Abbott’s colleagues - including keynote speaker Craig Kelly - as they entered an event called “pulling the plug on Paris”, Mr Abbott was in Outback Australia fulfilling his new role as indigenous envoy to the Prime Minister.
On the road with the Regional School Attendance Strategy team at Yirrkala. It is absolutely critical that every kid goes to school every day if our children are to have a decent future. pic.twitter.com/bRuRLgUPe2
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) September 26, 2018
But protest organisers said the 85-odd people who attended still got their message across.
Their signs included slogans such as “renew Abbott”, “vote for action on climate change,” and “The people of Warringah say no to coal”.
Despite Mr Abbott’s no-show, People of Warringah convener Nathan Thomas said their message would have reached him loud and clear.
The forum was about climate change, and in particular pulling out of an agreement - the Paris deal - to start to mitigate greenhouse gases by 2020.
“It showed him there is a lot of passion around the lack of action on climate change,” Mr Thomas said.
“The electorate want someone that is representing their views and the vast majority are saying we need to do something.
“No one is suggesting we turn coal off immediately, need an orderly transition and the Government hasn’t done anything for years and years and years.
“We don’t have any big picture ideas, we just have populist sound bites from our members.”
Mr Thomas sand his group’s campaign to dethrone Mr Abbott had gained renewed momentum due to the events of recent weeks.
Last week, 30 per cent of Mr Abbott’s own electoral conference voted not to endorse him as candidate, despite the lack of an opponent.
“There seemed to be a lot of people there in a very short space of time,” Mr Thomas said.
“We put something out on Facebook and Twitter on Monday night. I was really shocked at how many people turned up, it wasn't the best weather either, it was freezing.
“I think he is wounded, I think the way he has carried on and caused a leadership spill has not gone down well. I do think people feel like there is a real chance for people to get rid of him. I think people were hoping the libs would fix their own issue, but they haven't and now it comes back to the people of Warringah to do that.
So this happened in #Warringah tonight. A peaceful crowd of local people turned out in response to a Liberal party event “Pulling the Plug on Parisâ€. Keynote speaker â¦@TonyAbbottMHRâ© was a no-show. #WarringahVotes #LetsDoBetter #auspol pic.twitter.com/bp76B23YQm
— Dean Harris (@Drharro) September 26, 2018
Mr Abbott declined to respond to the protest, but previously rejected the notion he was under pressure, saying it was a “small minority of ultra-leftists”, that voted against him at the endorsement meeting.
“They have never been very happy with me, I suppose the demise of the former PM has stirred them up,” he said at the time. “I have always been pretty outspoken but the difference between me and my critics is if I have something to say I put my name to it.”
He is taking part in his first duties in his new role as special envoy for indigenous affairs to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Abbott’s trip to the Northern Territory included visits to schools in Warruwi and Galiwinku.
He posted pictures of himself talking with locals in Yirrkala, east of Darwin.
“This week’s visit was the first of several trips to remote Australia as part of the envoy role,” he told the Manly Daily.
“Given my role is focused on school and attendance and curriculum it was important this happened before term three concludes this week.”