Black Hand’s reach exceeds grasp as Pyne promises gay marriage

This gang destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now it’s back for the Libs.

Malcolm Turnbull speaking in Melbourne, yesterday:

I want to say a bit more about the problem of gangs …

One gang in particular? Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun, yesterday:

(Christopher) Pyne, a key Turnbull loyalist, sounded excited on Friday when he addressed a reception of the “Black Hand” — left-wing Liberal MPs and supporters — before the party’s federal council.

Pyne addresses the Black Hand at Sydney’s Cherry Bar, Friday night:

… we have to deliver a couple of things and one of those we’ve got to deliver before too long is marriage equality in this country. We’re going to get it. I think it might even be sooner than everyone thinks.

And that’s how you start a gang war. The Australian online, yesterday:

A damaging split within the Liberal Party has re-emerged as former prime minister Tony Abbott accuses Christopher Pyne of being disloyal and warns any moves to dump the government’s plebiscite policy would be a “breach of faith” with the public.

The Prime Minister definitely has a problem with the Black Hand gang. Turnbul in Melbourne, yesterday:

Journalist: On 18C, you have repeatedly said you had no plans to change that and then you announced plans to change that. Is same-sex marriage the same thing?

Turnbull: I am being very (pause) you can argue the toss as much as you like, and I can imagine (pause) …

Not the first time the Black Hand has started a big war. Encyclopaedia Britannica website, December 8 last year:

Black Hand … secret Serbian society of the early 20th century that used terrorist methods to promote the liberation of Serbs … and was instrumental in planning the assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914), precipitating the outbreak of World War I.

Is this the Balkanisation of the Libs? Bolt in the Herald Sun, yesterday:

Pyne’s prediction could detonate an explosion that destroys the party …

The Black Hand has been busy shooting down conservatives in NSW. The Australian, March 15:

James Griffin’s preselection in Mike Baird’s old seat of Manly has sparked tensions … Mr Griffin sought to dismiss speculation the result was a warning to Tony Abbott, whose preferred candidate to represent the Liberals, Walter Villatora, went down to Mr Griffin 71-37 on Monday night.

Tony Abbott might be the Archduke Ferdinand of the Great Liberal War. Niki Savva in The Australian, March 30:

Abbott has spent more time schmoozing his electorate. He knows experienced, determined operators in Warringah are now actively searching for a candidate to run against him if he renominates …

Abbott attacks the Black Hand’s ringleader on 2GB, yesterday:

Christopher Pyne was not just a member of my cabinet, he was actually in the leadership team … If he’s to be believed on Friday night that loyalty was never there, which is incredibly disappointing.

Pyne swore loyalty to the then PM on Sky News, February 6, 2015:

I don’t believe Tony Abbott should be replaced as leader of the Liberal Party.

But tells his Black Hand brothers a very different story. Pyne at Sydney’s Cherry Bar, Friday:

George (Brandis) and I kept the faith. We voted for Malcolm Turnbull in every ballot he’s ever been in.