Tasmanian Liberal senators backed losing candidate Peter Dutton
UPDATE: A TASMANIAN Liberal senator who signed a petition calling for a leadership spill that ultimately led to the exit of Malcolm Turnbull, now says party leadership rules need to be changed.
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UPDATE: A TASMANIAN Liberal senator who signed a petition calling for a leadership spill that ultimately led to the exit of Malcolm Turnbull, now says party leadership rules need to be changed.
Senator Jonathon Duniam, a close confidant of conservative powerbroker Eric Abetz, has suggested the Liberals borrow an idea from Labor to give Australians the “stable government they deserve”.
“As it stands, the Liberal Party rules states that only two members of the parliamentary party can bring about a leadership spill, and as we’ve seen last week, once the action is put in motion, it can rarely be stopped,” he said.
“The leadership model implemented by the Labor Party after the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard debacle in 2010, which requires 75 per cent of the vote to change the leader in government and 60 per cent in opposition, has seemingly proven effective in maintaining stable leadership.”
But senior Liberal figure Christopher Pyne, who spent the week trying to save Mr Turnbull from an internal coup, dismissed the idea.
“The best leadership rule is to support the leader,” Mr Pyne said. “I would encourage my colleagues to adopt it.”
Senator Duniam said he signed the petition to bring a “resolution to the issue” but did not elaborate on what the issue was.
“I have not provided any public commentary on how I voted or didn’t vote and I don’t intend to,” he said.
He apologised to Tasmanians for the “instability and distress caused by these events”.
EARLIER: TASMANIAN Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam is calling for a review of the Liberal Party leadership rules in the wake of this week’s damaging power struggle which forced Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership.
“What we have seen play out in Parliament last week has been most unfortunate,” Senator Duniam said today.
“I want to take this opportunity to apologise to all Tasmanians for the instability and distress caused by these events.”
“All Tasmanians deserve a cohesive and stable government to put in place effective policies to govern in the best interests for our country.”
“As it stands, the Liberal Party rules states that only two members of the parliamentary party can bring about a leadership spill, and as we’ve seen last week, once the action is put in motion, it can rarely be stopped.”
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“The leadership model implemented by the Labor Party after the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard debacle in 2010, which requires 75 per cent of the vote to change the leader in government and 60 per cent in opposition, has seemingly proven effective in maintaining stable leadership.”
“I’m not necessarily advocating for this model to be adopted, but it’s worth considering all alternatives.”
The Liberal Party faces weeks of rebuilding after the infighting which has resulted in the toppling of Mr Turnbull and elevation of Scott Morrison as prime minister.
Mr Turnbull stepped down from the Liberal leadership on Friday, after 43 of his colleagues signed a petition calling for a spill to end a week of what he described as an “insurgency” led by conservatives Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott.
EARLIER: THREE Tasmanian Liberal Senators played key roles in Liberal leadership chaos but ultimately backed the losing candidate Peter Dutton, who went down 45-40 to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Eric Abetz, Jonathon Duniam and David Bushby were among the first 15 MPs to sign a petition which forced the party room meeting.
Senator Richard Colbeck was not one of the 43 MPs to sign the petition.
Mr Morrison’s win means the three senators will not be the recipient of rewards that often go to backers of successful challenges.
Premier Will Hodgman wrote on Twitter that he was “very sorry” Mr Turnbull’s term as prime minister had come to an end.
“He has delivered a lot for our nation, Tasmania and the Liberals. I wish Malcolm and Lucy happy times ahead. Thanks (to the) Turnbull office for working closely with my Government to deliver positive results for Tasmania.”
Very sorry @TurnbullMalcolm ‘s term as PM has come to an end. He has delivered a lot for our nation, Tasmania & the @LiberalAus. I wish Malcolm and Lucy happy times ahead. Thanks Turnbull office for working closely with my Government to deliver positive results for Tasmania.
— Will Hodgman MP (@WillHodgman) August 24, 2018
Senator Abetz, who was dumped as Employment Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate by Malcolm Turnbull, conceded that he and Mr Turnbull had “had our differences”.
The long-time ally of Tony Abbott, he worked for Mr Dutton’s challenge especially in the wake of the 48-35 win by Mr Turnbull on Tuesday.
Senator Abetz was vocal on ABC radio and television and blasted Mr Turnbull over the requirement for the signatures to be made public.
Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said the new Liberal leadership team of Mr Morrison and Josh Frydenberg were good friends to Tasmania.
“Mr Morrison saved our GST, and Mr Frydenberg is a great advocate for pumped hydro,” he said.
Senator Abetz said he looked forward to working for the new Liberal leadership team.
Liberal Senate Whip David Bushby said Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg both had a strong record of delivery for Tasmania and Australia.
“I am glad the leadership issue is now resolved and I look forward to continuing to deliver the best possible outcomes,” he said.
Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said he was shocked by the change of leader.
“I didn’t think the Liberal Party would do it once let alone twice,’’ he said.
“We do however have a new team in Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg who both know Tasmania well and have played a part in the development of policies that are critical to our state.”
Mr Morrison’s attitude to a Hobart City Deal, a passion of Mr Turnbull’s, is not yet known.
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