Libspill: Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo talks his new role and role in coup against Malcolm Turnbull

GOLD Coast MP and new Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo has revealed the brutal personal cost of the Liberal Party coup which brought down Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, saying it was among the ‘worst weeks of my life’.

GOLD Coast Federal MP Steven Ciobo says it was a “judgment call” to resign as Tourism Minister during Coalition leadership upheaval he dubs one of the hardest weeks of his life.

The MP for Moncrieff returned to the Gold Coast yesterday, refusing to admit regret from last week’s Canberra turmoil that ended Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership and left the Liberal Coalition languishing in polls.

Mr Ciobo quit as Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister on Thursday saying “it is clear to me the Prime Minister has lost the support of the Party Room and it is critical the leadership is resolved”.

‘DON’T SMEAR ME’ SAYS NEW ASSISTANT TREASURER

Former Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo. Picture: Jerad Williams

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison has now appointed him Defence Industry Minister. Labor Senator Murray Watt has joined Mayor Tom Tate to say the loss of a Gold Coast-based Tourism Minister is a blow for the city.

Asked about how he felt he’d played his cards last week and if he had regrets, Mr Ciobo told the Gold Coast Bulletin yesterday: “I never like the kinds of activity we saw take place last week. It was an incredibly difficult period.

“I’m a firm believer you have to act with integrity. For that reason I had to tender my resignation.

“It brings me no joy at all. Malcolm Turnbull is a good friend of mine. These things are always tough.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Picture by Sean Davey.

“I’ve had two terribly hard weeks in my life, the hardest by far was health issues with firstborn son but last week was second hardest,” he said.

Mr Ciobo has long been a Turnbull backer and is believed to have weighed in behind initial challenger Peter Dutton.

“I used a judgment call,” Mr Ciobo said. “I’m not going to rake over the coals in terms of who did what. Frankly I don’t think the people I represent have any interest, I barely have any interest in that to be blunt. My focus is about affecting change for the city, change for the community that represents what it is they are after.”

Steven Ciobo with Malcolm Turnbull. Picture Kym Smith

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A bullish Mr Ciobo shrugged off a Newspoll for The Australian showing the Coalition primary vote drop four points to 33 per cent, on par with 2008’s slump.

“I don’t get caught up in day to day polls. What you have to look at is the big picture, what you have to focus on are the details for ordinary Gold Coasters — what’s their job security like, how is the economy going, can they get a good education, do we have decent healthcare, that’s what matters to people.”

Mr Ciobo has spoken on the difficulties of the previous week. Picture: Jerad Williams

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Last week Cr Tate was critical of Mr Ciobo quitting the tourism post and Mr Watt is calling it a “problem”.

But Mr Ciobo didn’t see it as a blow: “No of course not. The city has always had a strong and thriving tourism industry. I haven’t always held that portfolio.

“What matters most is there are now very strong voices for this city around the Cabinet table,” Mr Ciobo said.

“We are absolutely in the midst of a golden age for inbound tourism.”

Cr Tate posted online yesterday: “I wish Steven Ciobo all the best with managing the Naval Shipbuilding Plan — he may not have been able to sink one off the Gold Coast, but I hope he succeeds with building the best ones for our Defence Force.”

What a difference four days make in Federal politics.

Last Friday, the political stocks of Steven Ciobo were unclear after a messy leadership coup which saw a failed challenge by Peter Dutton to then-Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Ciobo quit as Tourism Minister — saying Turnbull had lost party room backing — then failed in a bid to become the Liberals deputy leader and was panned by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate for being interested in “self-advancement” not the city.

Steven Ciobo arrives at the restaurant to meet with national Liberal Party presidents and powerbrokers at Ottomon restaurant during the Libspill. Picture by Sean Davey.

When Mr Ciobo spoke to the Bulletin at 3.50pm on Friday — hours after Scott Morrison unexpectedly won a vote to be Prime Minister over Mr Dutton — Mr Ciobo sounded shattered. He had reportedly voted for close friend Mr Dutton and lost in a last-minute bid of his own to replace Julie Bishop as Liberal Party deputy. Exhausted, he was on his way to the airport, Gold Coast-bound.

Malcolm Turnbull and Steven Ciobo were close friends (AAP Image/Sam Mooy)

But fast forward to yesterday morning and Mr Ciobo was back in Cabinet as Defence Industry Minister and doing media on the Gold Coast, joking and excitedly talking up the Coalition’s chances at next year’s election even if polls didn’t support his bullishness: “I’m an optimist. I’m brimming with energy. I look forward to continuing to be as strong a voice as I can. I’m so excited we have excellent representation across the city and there is a new sense of energy about what we have to do now — so bring it on,” he chirped.