Prince Philip knighthood: Tony Abbott takes criticism ‘on the chin’

TONY Abbott concedes he hurt Campbell Newman’s campaign with Prince Philip’s knighthood, and takes the criticism “on the chin’’.

Tony Abbott said he discussed the knighthood of Prince Philip with Governor General Peter Cosgrove.

A REPENTANT Tony Abbott has conceded he derailed Campbell Newman’s re-election campaign by appointing Prince Philip a knight of Australia, vowing “considerably more consultation” on future appointments.

Amid increasing pressure on Mr Abbott and his chief-of-staff, Peta Credlin, Mr Abbott evaded repeated questions about whether or not his senior aide was consulted before the announcement.

Cabinet ministers and MPs have publicly distanced themselves from the Prime Minister’s “captain’s pick” of the Duke of Edinburgh, acknowledging widespread community displeasure towards the announcement and rising concern about Mr Abbott’s leadership.

Mr Abbott said he took the decision after consulting with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Order of Australia Council chairman Sir Angus Houston.

“I stand by the decision. I understand why some people don’t like it. I respect their right to be critical; that’s what you get in a democracy such as ours and I take it on the chin,” he said.

“But I do want to assure people that I have heard, and there will be considerably more consultation around these awards in the future.”

Mr Abbott this morning faced another day of scrutiny and ridicule in the nation’s press, with Brisbane’s The Courier-Mail eschewing state politics to depict the Prime Minister as a court jester, and News Corp Australia columnist Miranda Devine calling for Ms Credlin to be replaced.

Abbott again. Tough to write, but if he won't replace top aide Peta Credlin she must do her patriotic duty and resign. More

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 28, 2015

Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of News Corp, publisher of The Australian, this morning tweeted that if Mr Abbott “won’t replace top aide Peta Credlin she must do her patriotic duty and resign”.

Forget fairness. This change only way to recover team work and achieve so much possible for Australia. Leading involves cruel choices.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 28, 2015

“Forget fairness. This change only way to recover team work and achieve so much possible for Australia. Leading involves cruel choices,” Mr Murdoch also tweeted.

Credlin a good person. Just appealing to her proven patriotism.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 28, 2015

He later tweeted: “Credlin a good person. Just appealing to her proven patriotism.”

Tony Abbott said he discussed the knighthood of Prince Philip with Governor General Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Abbott, when pressed this morning about his discussions with Ms Credlin, declined to partake in “internal naval gazing” and noted his previous appointments had been “absolutely uncontentious”.

“I’m just not going to get into this kind of internal navel gazing. I’m really not,” Mr Abbott said.

“I did what I thought was appropriate. I consulted with the chairman of the order and I consulted with the Governor-General and, look, at the previous appointments and we’ve got Peter Cosgrove, Quentin Bryce, Marie Bashir and of course Angus Houston, all absolutely exemplary Australians and all absolutely uncontentious choices.”

The PM also consulted Angus Houston over his knighthood decision.

Asked to address concerns about his leadership, Mr Abbott acknowledged that government MPs had “a right to question my decisions”.

“I accept that people have a right to question my decisions. I mean, I am the Prime Minister of a robust democracy. We would not be the country we are if prime ministerial decisions were somehow beyond question,” Mr Abbott said.

“Everything I do is obviously open to question because that’s the nature of our democracy. So, look, I absolutely respect people’s right to disagree with me on things like this and I take it on the chin but I lead a government which is strong, effective, which has already a fine record of achievement and I look forward to building on that in 2015.”

Asked if he regretted the decision, Mr Abbott said: “The decision is made. It was made for good reasons and I stand by it.”

“Obviously there are some lessons in these things and the lesson that I learn is that there does need to be wider consultation about these sorts of awards in the future.”

The Queensland Premier, whose own marginal seat of Ashgrove covers a republican stronghold in the failed 1999 referendum, yesterday broke his silence to disagree with the “real bolt from the blue” appointment.

Mr Abbott accepted the furore has “been a distraction” both the Queensland LNP and the federal government.

“Obviously I absolutely respect Campbell’s right to run his campaign and, quite rightly and properly, he is focused on doing the right thing by the people of Queensland and what he’s got is a strong team with a strong plan for a stronger Queensland and he wants to focus on that,” he said.

The Courier-Mail is published by News Corp Australia, which also owns The Australian.