After winning his prize, Malcolm Turnbull must learn from Abbott's mistakes
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Version 0 of 1. Tony Abbott was the man who never let up. The man who had a plan to get to government but not beyond. The man who would never take his foot off the throat of any tribe that was not his own. He governed for his own. In the end, they disowned him. In his only statement on this fateful day, Abbott said he was disappointed with the destabilisation. But the truth is, while Abbott was a hero of the opposition Coalition, he was drafted in desperation and the public held their nose to vote for him. Some said Abbott might grow in the job. But he shrank. After he lost the leadership on Monday night, Abbott momentarily disappeared altogether. He did not appear on the night of 14 September, the last day of his prime ministership. Not for him a Gillard stiff upper lip. For all his dreaming, Malcolm Turnbull did a good impression of an innocent bystander. He appeared to be thoroughly surprised to be standing at the microphone in the blue room at 10.45pm, media cheek by jowl to see the new incumbent. In Turnbull’s victory speech, there were the seeds of discontent with Abbott’s leadership. Voters had worked it out and Turnbull was waiting for the party to join in. He acknowledged Abbott’s achievements in the China, Korean and Japanese free trade agreements, which represented the “key foundations of our future prosperity”. Turnbull also acknowledged the achievement that is “restoring the security on our borders”. The new formulation for stopping the boats. But Turnbull underlined the need for leadership which explains “the great challenges and opportunities that we face”. His would be a “thoroughly Liberal government”. The future of Australia should be “agile”, “innovative” and “creative”. Related: Boats, Bronnie and budget bungles: the rocky road to Liberal leadership spill “We can’t be defensive, we can’t future proof ourselves,” said Turnbull. “We have to recognise that the disruption that we see driven by technology, the volatility in change is our friend if we are agile and smart enough to take advantage of it.” This was thoroughly modern Malcolm. The urbane man as opposed to the young fogey. Turnbull’s confidence as opposed to Abbott’s defensiveness. Turnbull’s capacity to draw people into the tent as opposed to Abbott’s capacity to lock people out. “There are few things more important in any organisation than its culture,” Turnbull said after his victory on Monday. “The culture of our leadership is going to be one that is thoroughly consultative, a traditional thoroughly traditional Cabinet government that ensures that we make decisions in a collaborative manner. “The prime minister of Australia is not a president. The prime minister is the first among equals and you can see the partnership between me and Julie, the partnership with our colleagues will be a very clear cultural demonstration that we are operating in a traditional Cabinet manner and that means that I’m not going to make policy pronouncements from this podium tonight.” In spite of a belief that the new media cycle is all to blame, this is not new. Billy McMahon challenged John Gorton in office. Andrew Peacock challenged Malcolm Fraser in office. Paul Keating challenged Bob Hawke in office twice. No one challenged Keating. No one challenged Howard and Peter Costello might still be wondering. Then there was Kevin and Julia. And just six months ago, Abbott was challenged by an empty chair. Once Turnbull laid his cards on the table at 4pm on Monday just after question time, Abbott only appeared once in public. Related: How the Liberal party machine swallowed the real Tony Abbott alive Abbott had arrived after the 6pm news bulletins to make a brief statement. His mood appeared to seesaw, mirroring the events of the day. On the way into the ministerial press conference room – the blue room – Abbott gave his characteristic wink. Five steps later, as the camera engines whirred, he held up his hand to the photographers. “Do you mind?” As he did in his February come-to-jesus moment, Abbott appealed to the voters. “The prime ministership of this country is not a prize or a plaything to be demanded,” he said, perhaps in reference to the man who has everything but. “It should be something which is earned by a vote of the Australian people.” Abbott’s voice was low, almost sotto voce, as he laid out his case. He pleaded with members, straight to camera. He held out, as evidence, the messages of support which he said flooded into Liberal MPs offices. “We are not the Labor party,” Abbott said. “I firmly believe that our party is better than this, that our government is better than this and, by God, that our country is so much better than this. Thank you.” Where Abbott was understated, Joe Hockey was angry. Hockey has been consistently blamed but that would be to forget the first budget was a whole of government policy. Hockey has presented as a shell of a man for months. As he followed Abbott down the road to oblivion, he allowed some of that disappointment to escape, in his words and in his eyes. Turnbull in victory said he was humbled and perhaps he was. For he too was a man who was drafted in desperation. If the polls are to be believed, the voters won’t hold their nose to vote for him. But he will have to be a man who can let up. |