This was published 15 years ago
Shock result as Abbott wins Liberal leadership by one vote ... ETS dead
By Phillip Coorey
The federal Liberal Party has elected Tony Abbott as leader and in an unprecedented secret ballot voted overwhelmingly to defeat the Government’s emissions trading scheme.
Seconds after Mr Abbott beat Malcolm Turnbull by one vote, he then declared a secret ballot on the ETS.
Tony Abbott heads back to his office after defeating Malcolm Turnbull by one vote.Credit: Glen McCurtayne
The motion proposed that the legislation should be delayed for three months, and if this could not be secured, then the legislation should be defeated.
_____________
Peter Hartcher The Goanna Paul Sheehan
_____________
The motion was carried by 54 votes to 29, guaranteeing the death of the Rudd Government’s ETS.
Life and times of Malcolm Turnbull
Mr Abbott became the new leader of the Liberal Party after Mr Turnbull failed to survive a challenge sparked by infighting over the party's policy on emissions trading.
Joe Hockey had also contested the leadership but lost in the first round, with Mr Abbott polling 35 votes, to Mr Turnbull's 26 and Mr Hockey's 23.
The motion was carried by 54 votes to 29, guaranteeing the death of the Rudd Government’s ETS.
In the second round between Mr Abbott and Mr Turnbull, Mr Abbott polled 42 to Mr Turnbull's 41.
There was one MP or senator who voted informally in the second vote. Sky News reported that the informal vote was marked with the word ‘‘no’’.
The result of the secret ballot vote on the emissions trading scheme was 54 to 29.
After a tumultuous week in Liberal politics, Mr Abbott took on the challenge after Mr Hockey revealed that he would run on a compromise position on emissions trading by allowing the party room a conscience vote on the controversial issue.
Julie Bishop will remain as deputy leader.
Tony Abbott told a press conference he was humbled and daunted by the job ahead leading the federal Liberal Party, and that there were wounds that needed to be healed.
He said it had been a tumultuous week for the Liberal Party, a big day for him and a tough day for some of his colleagues.
As he left the party room, he told reporters: ‘‘I’m a bit overwhelmed.’’
Abbott supporter Sophie Mirabella said the party would be united ‘‘absolutely’’ behind the new leader.
‘‘We’re moving forward, united,’’ she told reporters. ‘‘There’s great goodwill.’’
After the vote, Mr Turnbull said that he had congratulated Mr Abbott and wished him well with the leadership.
He said he would not be resigning from Parliament and there would be no byelection in his seat of Wentworth.
Opposition Whip Alex Somlya, who announced the result, said there was no rancour in the room.
"[Mr Turnbull] said some very gracious words and wished Tony all the best," he said.
Turnbull supporter Michael Keenan said: "We all support the new leader."
"We will move forward as well as we can."
Andrew Robb, whose opposed the deal Mr Turnbull negotiated with Labor, said the party could move forward "stronger".
Fran Bailey was absent from the vote due to a medical condition.
A spokesman for the Victorian backbencher said she tried to obtain a proxy vote, but party rules prevented that.
‘‘Under medical advice she was prevented from any travel to Canberra,’’ he told AAP.
‘‘She did attempt to gain a proxy vote but party rules do not in fact allow for that.’’
Ms Bailey’s spokesman wouldn’t comment on whether she would have voted for Mr Turnbull, but she has been considered a supporter of the former leader in the past.
‘‘Fran was admitted to hospital over the weekend and required a MRI scan,’’ her spokesman said.
‘‘Those results were thankfully clear and Fran has now been discharged from hospital.’’
Ms Bishop said she was delighted Mr Abbott had been elected leader.
‘‘We have a great challenge ahead of us.’’
But a moderate source said the party had just ‘‘f----- ourselves over’’.
Senior Liberal Ian Macfarlane, who supported Mr Turnbull, said: ‘‘I’m relieved it’s over.‘‘
The main thing now is we’ve got to unite and go forward.’’
Mr Macfarlane was the key negotiator in reaching a deal with the Rudd Government on its emissions trading scheme.
Kevin Andrews, who made a tilt at the leadership last week, said the most important thing for the Coalition now was to be ‘‘strong, united and an effective opposition’’.
‘‘That’s what we have got to get together and achieve, it’s the responsibility of all of us to do that,’’ he told Sky News after the meeting.
Mr Abbott told the party room that he would be inviting Mr Hockey to continue as shadow treasurer and Christopher Pyne, another moderate, to continue as leader of Opposition business in the lower house.
Phillip Coorey is the Herald's Chief Political Correspondent.
- with AAP