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| Malcolm Turnbull sworn in as new Australian prime minister– politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.54am BST04:54 | |
| John Howard. | |
| Of course, if you look at the broader political picture, Tony Abbott is also somebody who should be remembered in the Liberal Party pantheon as having achieved in 2010 a quite remarkable thing. He effectively, at the 2010 election, killed off a first-term Labor government. | |
| It may have taken another three years for it to be buried and cremated but it was killed off at the 2010 election. Nobody else leading the Liberal Party, nobody else leading the Liberal Party, in my judgment, could have achieved that. | |
| Inevitably with the pain of disappointment and loss that undoubtedly my friend Tony Abbott feels at this particular time, I say to him as a friend and as a former Liberal Party leader, that he has an enormous amount to be proud of and there is much in his record, both as opposition leader and prime minister, of which the Liberal party should be profoundly grateful and indebted. | |
| To Malcolm Turnbull, I offer my congratulations. I have known Malcolm for a longtime. He was, of course, a Howard era minister and he was a very good minister. He’s a person of great intelligence. | |
| He has the capacity to explain economic concepts very clearly and very lucidly and that, as he indicated yesterday, will be an important part of the skill set that he brings to his new responsibilities. I have little doubt that he will, as I did and Tony Abbott did, understand that the Liberal party is a broad church. It’s a centre right party, it brings together two streams of the Australian polity, it is the custodian of small liberal values. It does best when it keeps a balance of those two. | |
| 4.49am BST04:49 | |
| The former prime minister John Howard is paying tribute now to Tony Abbott. I’ll give you a bit of that in a minute. | |
| Meanwhile Daniel Hurst keeps us up to speed with the opposition. | |
| Labor MPs have put on a brave face and begun seeking to tarnish Malcolm Turnbull’s trustworthiness as prime minister after the Liberal leadership changethreatened to revive the Coalition’s popularity in the leadup to the next election. | |
| Labor, which has led the Coalition in major opinion polls since last year, had been hoping to face Tony Abbott at the general election due in 2016 because of his entrenched negative approval ratings and his association with broken promises. | |
| But the elevation of the far more popular Turnbull poses a serious test for the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, who has also been struggling with low personal approval ratings and until now focused his attacks on Abbott and the treasurer, Joe Hockey. | |
| 4.40am BST04:40 | |
| TURNBULL’S GRANDSON ALERT x 2 pic.twitter.com/VxlVhMYchK | |
| 4.35am BST04:35 | |
| Australia has a new prime minister | |
| Boom, Malcolm Turnbull is sworn in in two seconds flat. Question time is breathing down everyone’s necks. | |
| 4.34am BST04:34 | |
| I think the Turnbull grandchild is intent on upstaging grandpa. | |
| 4.33am BST04:33 | |
| All eyes now to Government House. The new regime is about to be sworn in. Let the era of disruption commence! | |
| 4.28am BST04:28 | |
| Last media appearance for PM Tony Abbott @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive http://t.co/qrh84GSLX7 pic.twitter.com/PekXAR1pd5 | |
| 4.27am BST04:27 | |
| Tony Nutt, back to help | |
| My colleague Lenore Taylor is just back from the Coalition partyroom debrief. She says Abbott did not attend this morning’s discussion, but Joe Hockey was there (as we’ve pictured earlier on today.) Malcolm Turnbull thanked colleagues for their discipline and team spirit and observed that no-one was more committed to the broad church of the Liberal party than him. He said Tony Nutt – the former Howard backroom adviser – would be the director of transition, and Drew Clarke from the department of communications would be chief of staff. Turnbull said he intended to restore the open consultative model of the prime minister’s office that existed under Nutt and Sinodinos in the Howard years. Christopher Pyne urged colleagues just to get back on stage, and keep on singing. Every government needs a Pyne. | |
| 4.19am BST04:19 | 4.19am BST04:19 |
| The fatigue is all in the eyes. Gruelling business, politics. | The fatigue is all in the eyes. Gruelling business, politics. |
| 4.14am BST04:14 | 4.14am BST04:14 |
| Some thoughts from me on that sign off | Some thoughts from me on that sign off |
| Well the first thing to note is it doesn’t look like Tony Abbott is leaving politics. | Well the first thing to note is it doesn’t look like Tony Abbott is leaving politics. |
| Now to the substance of the sign off. Of course he wants to characterise himself and the government he led as purposeful in the face of undermining, but unfortunately for Abbott that is not the government we all saw. We saw centralised control, poor decision making, brittle aggression, pointless playing of favourites, a political tin ear, a litany of broken promises, a first budget that invited a national referendum on the question of fairness. That’s what we saw. It cannot be unseen even as a gesture of respect to a man who has endured a really tough 48 hours. | Now to the substance of the sign off. Of course he wants to characterise himself and the government he led as purposeful in the face of undermining, but unfortunately for Abbott that is not the government we all saw. We saw centralised control, poor decision making, brittle aggression, pointless playing of favourites, a political tin ear, a litany of broken promises, a first budget that invited a national referendum on the question of fairness. That’s what we saw. It cannot be unseen even as a gesture of respect to a man who has endured a really tough 48 hours. |
| Abbott genuinely did try to change the media cycle. It was an important experiment, but it failed, because the old clubbish ways between politics and the good gentleman of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery is over. It’s never coming back. Abbott kept trying to recreate ‘we good chaps running the country all together’ in ways that only served to isolate him and drag his government off into a fringe agenda. This has been a critical mistake. It’s made him look like King Canute. | Abbott genuinely did try to change the media cycle. It was an important experiment, but it failed, because the old clubbish ways between politics and the good gentleman of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery is over. It’s never coming back. Abbott kept trying to recreate ‘we good chaps running the country all together’ in ways that only served to isolate him and drag his government off into a fringe agenda. This has been a critical mistake. It’s made him look like King Canute. |
| He does have a point about the febrile nature of the modern media cycle, and the coup culture. It is a problem, and a serious one. Asking journalists not to write crap is a worthy endeavour. Julia Gillard tried it before him. It’s a reasonable request. But one best not made if you benefit from the crap on the way up. That tends to look churlish. You like it if its works for you, you don’t like it if it doesn’t. It’s also bizarre to style yourself as a victim of a hostile media cycle when you’ve had rolling praise, by and large, from the largest print media company in the country right up until the last, frenetic few weeks. | He does have a point about the febrile nature of the modern media cycle, and the coup culture. It is a problem, and a serious one. Asking journalists not to write crap is a worthy endeavour. Julia Gillard tried it before him. It’s a reasonable request. But one best not made if you benefit from the crap on the way up. That tends to look churlish. You like it if its works for you, you don’t like it if it doesn’t. It’s also bizarre to style yourself as a victim of a hostile media cycle when you’ve had rolling praise, by and large, from the largest print media company in the country right up until the last, frenetic few weeks. |
| I hope for his own sake that Abbott can put down the cudgels and not seek to avenge his honour. The country could really use a rest from the titanic egos of politicians. We’ve seen entirely too much of that over the past decade or so. It chews the country up, and it chews up the protagonists as well. | I hope for his own sake that Abbott can put down the cudgels and not seek to avenge his honour. The country could really use a rest from the titanic egos of politicians. We’ve seen entirely too much of that over the past decade or so. It chews the country up, and it chews up the protagonists as well. |
| Fundamentally Tony Abbott is a decent man. It would be good to remind the country of his innate human decency, and let that enhance his legacy. | Fundamentally Tony Abbott is a decent man. It would be good to remind the country of his innate human decency, and let that enhance his legacy. |
| Updated at 4.16am BST | Updated at 4.16am BST |
| 3.57am BST03:57 | 3.57am BST03:57 |
| A few thoughts on that farewell shortly. | A few thoughts on that farewell shortly. |
| 3.56am BST03:56 | 3.56am BST03:56 |
| There were no questions. | There were no questions. |
| 3.55am BST03:55 | 3.55am BST03:55 |
| In between the sharper quotes I’ve shared, Abbott listed his government’s achievements. | In between the sharper quotes I’ve shared, Abbott listed his government’s achievements. |
| I’ve held true to what I’ve believed and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved over the past two years. 300,000 more people are in jobs. Labor’s bad taxes are gone. We’ve signed Free Trade Agreements with our largest trading partners, with Japan, with Korea and with China. The biggest infrastructure program in our country’s history is under way. | I’ve held true to what I’ve believed and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved over the past two years. 300,000 more people are in jobs. Labor’s bad taxes are gone. We’ve signed Free Trade Agreements with our largest trading partners, with Japan, with Korea and with China. The biggest infrastructure program in our country’s history is under way. |
| A spotlight is being shone into the dark and corrupt corners of the union movement and Labor’s party union business model. We’ve responded to the threats of terror and we’ve deployed to the other side of the world to bring our loved ones home. | A spotlight is being shone into the dark and corrupt corners of the union movement and Labor’s party union business model. We’ve responded to the threats of terror and we’ve deployed to the other side of the world to bring our loved ones home. |
| The boats have stopped and with the boats stopped, we’ve been better able to display our compassion to refugees. And the budget. | The boats have stopped and with the boats stopped, we’ve been better able to display our compassion to refugees. And the budget. |
| Of course, there’s much that I had still wanted to do. Constitutional recognition of Indigenous people. Getting the kids to school, the adults to work and communities safe. I was the first Prime Minister to spend a week a year in remote Indigenous Australia. And I hope I’m not the last. | Of course, there’s much that I had still wanted to do. Constitutional recognition of Indigenous people. Getting the kids to school, the adults to work and communities safe. I was the first Prime Minister to spend a week a year in remote Indigenous Australia. And I hope I’m not the last. |
| Then there’s the challenge of ice and domestic violence, yet to be addressed. | Then there’s the challenge of ice and domestic violence, yet to be addressed. |
| Australia has a role to play in the struggles of the wider world. The cauldron of the Middle East. And security in the South China Sea and elsewhere. | Australia has a role to play in the struggles of the wider world. The cauldron of the Middle East. And security in the South China Sea and elsewhere. |
| I fear that none of this will be helped if the leadership instability that’s plagued other countries continues to taint us. | I fear that none of this will be helped if the leadership instability that’s plagued other countries continues to taint us. |
| But yes, I am proud of what the Abbott government has achieved. | But yes, I am proud of what the Abbott government has achieved. |
| 3.50am BST03:50 | 3.50am BST03:50 |
| I thank my family for allowing me to be the absentee spouse and parent that politics entails. I thank Margie for her grace and dignity throughout my public life. | I thank my family for allowing me to be the absentee spouse and parent that politics entails. I thank Margie for her grace and dignity throughout my public life. |
| I thank my party for the privilege of leading it. I thank the armed forces who are serving our country and defending our values, even as we speak. I think my staff, who have been absolutely unceasing in their devotion to our party and our country, especially my chief of staff, who has been unfairly maligned by people who should’ve known better | I thank my party for the privilege of leading it. I thank the armed forces who are serving our country and defending our values, even as we speak. I think my staff, who have been absolutely unceasing in their devotion to our party and our country, especially my chief of staff, who has been unfairly maligned by people who should’ve known better |
| Finally, I thank my country for the privilege of service. It is humbling to lose, but that does not compare to the honour of being asked to lead. | Finally, I thank my country for the privilege of service. It is humbling to lose, but that does not compare to the honour of being asked to lead. |
| In my maiden speech here in this Parliament, I quoted from the first Christian service ever preached here in Australia. | In my maiden speech here in this Parliament, I quoted from the first Christian service ever preached here in Australia. |
| The Reverend Richard Johnson took as his text “what shall I render unto the Lord for all his blessings to me?” | The Reverend Richard Johnson took as his text “what shall I render unto the Lord for all his blessings to me?” |
| At this, my final statement as Prime Minister, I say: I have rendered all and I am proud of my service. | At this, my final statement as Prime Minister, I say: I have rendered all and I am proud of my service. |
| My love for this country is as strong as ever, and may God bless this great Commonwealth. | My love for this country is as strong as ever, and may God bless this great Commonwealth. |
| 3.47am BST03:47 | 3.47am BST03:47 |
| None of us are Gods, and PS: don't write crap | None of us are Gods, and PS: don't write crap |
| I am proud of what the Abbott government has achieved. We stayed focused despite the white-anting. | I am proud of what the Abbott government has achieved. We stayed focused despite the white-anting. |
| Of course, the government wasn’t perfect. We have been a government of men and women, not a government of Gods walking upon the earth. | Of course, the government wasn’t perfect. We have been a government of men and women, not a government of Gods walking upon the earth. |
| Few of us, after all, entirely measure up to expectations. | Few of us, after all, entirely measure up to expectations. |
| The nature of politics has changed in the past decade. We have more polls and more commentary than ever before. Mostly sour, bitter, character assassination. Poll driven politics has produced a revolving door prime ministership which can’t be good for our country. And a febrile media culture has developed that rewards treachery. | The nature of politics has changed in the past decade. We have more polls and more commentary than ever before. Mostly sour, bitter, character assassination. Poll driven politics has produced a revolving door prime ministership which can’t be good for our country. And a febrile media culture has developed that rewards treachery. |
| And if there’s one piece of advice I can give to the media, it’s this: refuse to print self-serving claims that the person making them won’t put his or her name to. | And if there’s one piece of advice I can give to the media, it’s this: refuse to print self-serving claims that the person making them won’t put his or her name to. |
| Refuse to connive with dishonour by acting as the assassin’s knife. | Refuse to connive with dishonour by acting as the assassin’s knife. |
| 3.43am BST03:43 | 3.43am BST03:43 |
| Abbott says he’s consistently said in opposition and in government that being the prime minister is not an end in itself, it’s about the people you serve. | Abbott says he’s consistently said in opposition and in government that being the prime minister is not an end in itself, it’s about the people you serve. |
| Yes, this is a tough day, but when you join the game, you accept the rules. | Yes, this is a tough day, but when you join the game, you accept the rules. |
| 3.41am BST03:41 | 3.41am BST03:41 |
| Tony Abbott makes his statement to reporters | Tony Abbott makes his statement to reporters |
| Abbott says it’s a tough day, tough for many in the building, tough for the country. | Abbott says it’s a tough day, tough for many in the building, tough for the country. |
| But he says he intends to take this on the chin. | But he says he intends to take this on the chin. |
| There will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping. | There will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping. |
| I’ve never leaked or backgrounded against anyone. And I certainly won’t start now. | I’ve never leaked or backgrounded against anyone. And I certainly won’t start now. |
| 3.34am BST03:34 | 3.34am BST03:34 |
| Press pack waiting for @TonyAbbottMHR pic.twitter.com/1MS3O22CiN | Press pack waiting for @TonyAbbottMHR pic.twitter.com/1MS3O22CiN |
| 3.33am BST03:33 | 3.33am BST03:33 |
| Malcolm Turnbull’s son Alex, via Facebook. | Malcolm Turnbull’s son Alex, via Facebook. |
| Pretty good week in politics. Corbyn implosion triggered, Dad became PM, hoping for Donald J. Trump to pull off the rubber mask and expose Al Gore to round it out. | Pretty good week in politics. Corbyn implosion triggered, Dad became PM, hoping for Donald J. Trump to pull off the rubber mask and expose Al Gore to round it out. |
| (We are all hoping for that on Trump, just quietly). | (We are all hoping for that on Trump, just quietly). |
| 3.30am BST03:30 | 3.30am BST03:30 |
| Greens leader Richard Di Natale on the new regime. Malcolm needs to get serious about climate change, refugees, equal marriage. | Greens leader Richard Di Natale on the new regime. Malcolm needs to get serious about climate change, refugees, equal marriage. |
| Richard Di Natale: | Richard Di Natale: |
| Well, I won’t judge Malcolm Turnbull on the basis of a short press conference after assuming the leadership. I will be very keen to talk to him about ... issues and of course, front and centre will be the issue of global warming and to discuss taking serious action to address this challenge. | Well, I won’t judge Malcolm Turnbull on the basis of a short press conference after assuming the leadership. I will be very keen to talk to him about ... issues and of course, front and centre will be the issue of global warming and to discuss taking serious action to address this challenge. |
| I understand that he’s already indicated a reluctance to move here, but that’s what leadership’s about. | I understand that he’s already indicated a reluctance to move here, but that’s what leadership’s about. |
| 3.25am BST03:25 | 3.25am BST03:25 |
| There’s a new seating chart for the House of Representatives. | There’s a new seating chart for the House of Representatives. |
| New seating plan. Abbott on the bbench next to @AndrewLamingMP. Hockey remains on the front bench for now. #qt pic.twitter.com/iBaNkTjQSH | New seating plan. Abbott on the bbench next to @AndrewLamingMP. Hockey remains on the front bench for now. #qt pic.twitter.com/iBaNkTjQSH |
| 3.23am BST03:23 | 3.23am BST03:23 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| The Labor current motion is the suspension of standing orders to enable the condemning of the government. The division on the substantive motion has now been deferred until later in the day. Michael Keenan is now up telling the parliament about the Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) Bill 2015. The justice minister says the legislation will “improve the efficiency and operation of the justice system”. | The Labor current motion is the suspension of standing orders to enable the condemning of the government. The division on the substantive motion has now been deferred until later in the day. Michael Keenan is now up telling the parliament about the Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) Bill 2015. The justice minister says the legislation will “improve the efficiency and operation of the justice system”. |
| 3.19am BST03:19 | 3.19am BST03:19 |
| My colleague Daniel Hurst tells me that Labor has moved a motion in the House condemning disunity in the Coalition. “Who is the prime minister?” shouted Labor’s Jenny Macklin as she sought to support the motion condemning the government for disunity. The government quickly moved to gag her. | My colleague Daniel Hurst tells me that Labor has moved a motion in the House condemning disunity in the Coalition. “Who is the prime minister?” shouted Labor’s Jenny Macklin as she sought to support the motion condemning the government for disunity. The government quickly moved to gag her. |
| 3.11am BST03:11 | 3.11am BST03:11 |
| Tuesday morning, if you are just tuning in | Tuesday morning, if you are just tuning in |
| A very quick summary in the event you are just tuning in to the morning after the night before. | A very quick summary in the event you are just tuning in to the morning after the night before. |
| Onwards. Upwards. | Onwards. Upwards. |
| 3.04am BST03:04 | 3.04am BST03:04 |
| While I have a moment a few links to share. | While I have a moment a few links to share. |
| The solution to his dilemma is hidden in the details of the Direct Action policy, details which allow the policy to be “dialled up” into a baseline and credit emissions trading scheme that has a better chance of actually reducing Australia’s output of greenhouse gases. The key lies in the “safeguards” the government is finalising to make sure businesses that are not seeking money from the “Direct Action” fund don’t increase their emissions and undo all the reductions the government is buying. | The solution to his dilemma is hidden in the details of the Direct Action policy, details which allow the policy to be “dialled up” into a baseline and credit emissions trading scheme that has a better chance of actually reducing Australia’s output of greenhouse gases. The key lies in the “safeguards” the government is finalising to make sure businesses that are not seeking money from the “Direct Action” fund don’t increase their emissions and undo all the reductions the government is buying. |
| In the heartland of Malcolm Turnbull’s electorate in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the sun seems to be shining just a little brighter than usual. It’s not divine intervention. It’s probably just because spring has arrived. But for Turnbull’s supporters in Wentworth it’s a sign that their chosen candidate is where he belongs. | In the heartland of Malcolm Turnbull’s electorate in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the sun seems to be shining just a little brighter than usual. It’s not divine intervention. It’s probably just because spring has arrived. But for Turnbull’s supporters in Wentworth it’s a sign that their chosen candidate is where he belongs. |
| Abbott has never fully appreciated the essence of Aboriginal culture, not if we take him at his word. This is the man who in 2014 said white settlement was Australia’s “defining moment”, the moment “this continent became part of the modern world”. | Abbott has never fully appreciated the essence of Aboriginal culture, not if we take him at his word. This is the man who in 2014 said white settlement was Australia’s “defining moment”, the moment “this continent became part of the modern world”. |
| 2.53am BST02:53 | 2.53am BST02:53 |
| Ah no, here we go. | Ah no, here we go. |
| Tony Abbott will deliver his last statement in PM's courtyard at 12.30 @SkyNewsAust | Tony Abbott will deliver his last statement in PM's courtyard at 12.30 @SkyNewsAust |
| Same location as Kevin Rudd’s farewell. | Same location as Kevin Rudd’s farewell. |
| 2.51am BST02:51 | 2.51am BST02:51 |
| You people are very rude. | You people are very rude. |
| #WheresTony pic.twitter.com/CfFJLYB6fY | #WheresTony pic.twitter.com/CfFJLYB6fY |
| 2.43am BST02:43 | 2.43am BST02:43 |
| Where are you Tony? | Where are you Tony? |
| 2.38am BST02:38 | 2.38am BST02:38 |
| Another thought. | Another thought. |
| @murpharoo 'Turnbullé' French for a soufflé that *can* rise twice. | @murpharoo 'Turnbullé' French for a soufflé that *can* rise twice. |
| An excellent one. | An excellent one. |
| 2.37am BST02:37 | 2.37am BST02:37 |
| This morning, Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones had a grim task. He had to note he had been, in fact, wrong to say Malcolm Turnbull would never return as leader of the Liberal party. Time was out of joint. | This morning, Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones had a grim task. He had to note he had been, in fact, wrong to say Malcolm Turnbull would never return as leader of the Liberal party. Time was out of joint. |
| As with all seismic events, it was bumpy. Alan declared he had known Turnbull “backwards.” Perhaps he would have been better placed popping himself in front to witness the approaching freight train. | As with all seismic events, it was bumpy. Alan declared he had known Turnbull “backwards.” Perhaps he would have been better placed popping himself in front to witness the approaching freight train. |
| Just a thought. | Just a thought. |
| 2.26am BST02:26 | 2.26am BST02:26 |
| Turnbulle? | Turnbulle? |
| Unhappy camper waiting for Turnbull to arrive at Government House @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/UpooN2YAB6 | Unhappy camper waiting for Turnbull to arrive at Government House @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/UpooN2YAB6 |
| Et u indeed. | Et u indeed. |
| 2.23am BST02:23 | 2.23am BST02:23 |
| Leadership spills can be a brutal business. I assume frontbencher Jamie Briggs earned this injury elsewhere .. but who knows? Man’s inhumanity to man. I gather there’s been a SNAFU downstairs about photographers not respecting Briggs’ privacy. | Leadership spills can be a brutal business. I assume frontbencher Jamie Briggs earned this injury elsewhere .. but who knows? Man’s inhumanity to man. I gather there’s been a SNAFU downstairs about photographers not respecting Briggs’ privacy. |
| Bit hard to respect privacy in public places. | Bit hard to respect privacy in public places. |
| 2.18am BST02:18 | 2.18am BST02:18 |
| On Sky News, one of Malcolm Turnbull’s key numbers men, Victorian senator Mitch Fifield, says he helped tear Turnbull down in opposition because he couldn’t in all good conscience support an emissions trading scheme – but things change. | On Sky News, one of Malcolm Turnbull’s key numbers men, Victorian senator Mitch Fifield, says he helped tear Turnbull down in opposition because he couldn’t in all good conscience support an emissions trading scheme – but things change. |
| Malcolm is no longer supporting an emissions trading scheme. (Well at least not until there’s a move on to switch direct action into a baseline and credit scheme. But there’s enough going on now, let’s not scamper too far ahead.) | Malcolm is no longer supporting an emissions trading scheme. (Well at least not until there’s a move on to switch direct action into a baseline and credit scheme. But there’s enough going on now, let’s not scamper too far ahead.) |
| Mitch Fifield: | Mitch Fifield: |
| We are determined to ensure Bill Shorten doesn’t win the next election. We don’t want to see Bill Shorten bring back a carbon tax. | We are determined to ensure Bill Shorten doesn’t win the next election. We don’t want to see Bill Shorten bring back a carbon tax. |
| 2.14am BST02:14 | 2.14am BST02:14 |
| Further to those announcements in the caucus, I gather Jim Chalmers has confirmed to colleagues he’s nominating for the shadow ministry vacancy created by Ripoll’s announcement/retirement. | Further to those announcements in the caucus, I gather Jim Chalmers has confirmed to colleagues he’s nominating for the shadow ministry vacancy created by Ripoll’s announcement/retirement. |
| For readers who don’t know Chalmers, he’s currently parliamentary secretary to the opposition leader and for trade and investment. He’s a member of the House Economics Committee; Deputy Chair of HoR Tax and Revenue Committee; Deputy Chair of Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth. | For readers who don’t know Chalmers, he’s currently parliamentary secretary to the opposition leader and for trade and investment. He’s a member of the House Economics Committee; Deputy Chair of HoR Tax and Revenue Committee; Deputy Chair of Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth. |
| Chalmers worked for the former treasurer Wayne Swan before entering politics himself. He’s one of the new batch of bright young things. | Chalmers worked for the former treasurer Wayne Swan before entering politics himself. He’s one of the new batch of bright young things. |
| 2.10am BST02:10 | 2.10am BST02:10 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| Meanwhile, in other quarters of the building. Bill Shorten let the cameras in to film his opening address to the Labor caucus meeting, during which he began to build the case against Malcolm Turnbull and also praised the opposition for blocking Tony Abbott’s unpopular budget measures. | Meanwhile, in other quarters of the building. Bill Shorten let the cameras in to film his opening address to the Labor caucus meeting, during which he began to build the case against Malcolm Turnbull and also praised the opposition for blocking Tony Abbott’s unpopular budget measures. |
| But after the cameras left he had some other business to discuss. He advised the meeting that Queensland senator Jan McLucas and MP Bernie Ripoll intended to stand down from the Labor frontbench. It had already been announced months ago that both would bow out of parliament at the next election. At today’s meeting, Shorten thanked the pair for loyal and capable service. Ripoll served as the shadow minister for financial services, superannuation and sport, while McLucas held the mental health, housing and homelessness portfolios. Their replacements are expected to be appointed after the next parliamentary break. | But after the cameras left he had some other business to discuss. He advised the meeting that Queensland senator Jan McLucas and MP Bernie Ripoll intended to stand down from the Labor frontbench. It had already been announced months ago that both would bow out of parliament at the next election. At today’s meeting, Shorten thanked the pair for loyal and capable service. Ripoll served as the shadow minister for financial services, superannuation and sport, while McLucas held the mental health, housing and homelessness portfolios. Their replacements are expected to be appointed after the next parliamentary break. |
| Shorten also flagged an imminent announcement on Labor’s higher education policy. Close watchers in this space will know the party has been firmly opposed to the Coalition’s twice-thwarted policy to deregulate university fees but it has revealed few details of an alternative policy. | Shorten also flagged an imminent announcement on Labor’s higher education policy. Close watchers in this space will know the party has been firmly opposed to the Coalition’s twice-thwarted policy to deregulate university fees but it has revealed few details of an alternative policy. |
| There were two questions to the Labor executive, including one to Penny Wong asking for more information to refute the government’s claims about the China-Australia free trade agreement. Wong committed to distribute more details. The other question was about the digital transformation office. Labor also offered its condolences to Kim Beazley on the death of his mother. | There were two questions to the Labor executive, including one to Penny Wong asking for more information to refute the government’s claims about the China-Australia free trade agreement. Wong committed to distribute more details. The other question was about the digital transformation office. Labor also offered its condolences to Kim Beazley on the death of his mother. |
| But the political focus today remains firmly on the upheaval in the Coalition. | But the political focus today remains firmly on the upheaval in the Coalition. |
| 2.07am BST02:07 | 2.07am BST02:07 |
| Paradise lost for Joe Hockey? | Paradise lost for Joe Hockey? |
| 2.05am BST02:05 | 2.05am BST02:05 |
| Another day in paradise. | Another day in paradise. |
| That’s Christopher Pyne’s word to reporters on his way into the party room meeting this morning. | That’s Christopher Pyne’s word to reporters on his way into the party room meeting this morning. |
| 2.01am BST02:01 | 2.01am BST02:01 |
| Katharine Murphy | Katharine Murphy |
| Well hello good people and welcome to another day in circus training paradise. Ms Chan and I are juggling various projects so once again we are both holding our precious live blog baby today. | Well hello good people and welcome to another day in circus training paradise. Ms Chan and I are juggling various projects so once again we are both holding our precious live blog baby today. |
| I’d love to be able to tell you when the new regime will be sworn in, but I can’t until the prime minister Tony Abbott resigns. | I’d love to be able to tell you when the new regime will be sworn in, but I can’t until the prime minister Tony Abbott resigns. |
| We are yet to see anything at all from Abbott. | We are yet to see anything at all from Abbott. |
| Where are you, Tony? | Where are you, Tony? |
| 1.56am BST01:56 | 1.56am BST01:56 |
| OK people, the good lady Katharine Murphy is taking over now. I am off to other projects which you shall see later in the day. | OK people, the good lady Katharine Murphy is taking over now. I am off to other projects which you shall see later in the day. |
| Over to you @murpharoo | Over to you @murpharoo |
| 1.38am BST01:38 | 1.38am BST01:38 |
| Best wishes to Malcolm Turnbull becoming Australia's 29th Prime Minister Huge job with huge challenges.Therese and I wish he and Lucy well. | Best wishes to Malcolm Turnbull becoming Australia's 29th Prime Minister Huge job with huge challenges.Therese and I wish he and Lucy well. |
| 1.21am BST01:21 | 1.21am BST01:21 |
| Bernardi: Turnbull coup is treachery of the highest order | Bernardi: Turnbull coup is treachery of the highest order |
| Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is about as happy as well, Ray Hadley. | Liberal senator Cory Bernardi is about as happy as well, Ray Hadley. |
| This is treachery of the highest order. | This is treachery of the highest order. |
| Plotters will be rewarded on the frontbench. But those unhappy Liberal MPs will give more loyalty to Malcolm than Malcolm gave to Tony. | Plotters will be rewarded on the frontbench. But those unhappy Liberal MPs will give more loyalty to Malcolm than Malcolm gave to Tony. |
| With the coup that took place, we showed there is not much difference between the Liberal party and the Labor party. | With the coup that took place, we showed there is not much difference between the Liberal party and the Labor party. |
| He could not tell whether a Turnbull government would win the next election. | He could not tell whether a Turnbull government would win the next election. |
| 1.16am BST01:16 | 1.16am BST01:16 |
| Some people are cruel. | Some people are cruel. |
| 1.08am BST01:08 | 1.08am BST01:08 |
| I’m happy. | I’m happy. |
| I really am. | I really am. |
| 12.58am BST00:58 | 12.58am BST00:58 |
| Smarmy walks part 2: shock jocks shocked | Smarmy walks part 2: shock jocks shocked |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| Macquarie Radio shock jock Ray Hadley is incensed at the Liberal party room’s decision to knife Tony Abbott. | Macquarie Radio shock jock Ray Hadley is incensed at the Liberal party room’s decision to knife Tony Abbott. |
| He took to the airwaves this morning lamenting the fact that Australia has a “Labor-lite” prime minister in Malcom Turnbull, who he describes as an “unelectable toff”. | He took to the airwaves this morning lamenting the fact that Australia has a “Labor-lite” prime minister in Malcom Turnbull, who he describes as an “unelectable toff”. |
| “We’ve now got two Labor leaders in Canberra,” Hadley said. “The opposition has a Labor leader, and now the government has a Labor leader. [It is] the ides of September.” | “We’ve now got two Labor leaders in Canberra,” Hadley said. “The opposition has a Labor leader, and now the government has a Labor leader. [It is] the ides of September.” |
| He pointed out that Turnbull had dismal opinion poll ratings when he was opposition leader. | He pointed out that Turnbull had dismal opinion poll ratings when he was opposition leader. |
| “He was on the nose then, and he’s on the nose now.” | “He was on the nose then, and he’s on the nose now.” |
| “Turnbull and the Liberal party don’t deserve to lead,” Hadley continued. “I can’t support any party that mirrors the lemming-like practices of the Labor party in sacking a first term prime minister.” | “Turnbull and the Liberal party don’t deserve to lead,” Hadley continued. “I can’t support any party that mirrors the lemming-like practices of the Labor party in sacking a first term prime minister.” |
| The radio announcer then turned his ire on the 53 “numbskulls” or “palukas” who voted for Turnbull. | The radio announcer then turned his ire on the 53 “numbskulls” or “palukas” who voted for Turnbull. |
| “They should be identified so that the voters who voted them in at the last election, led by Tony Abbott, can simply say to them - next time, go chew in your boot, I’m going somewhere else,” Hadley said. | “They should be identified so that the voters who voted them in at the last election, led by Tony Abbott, can simply say to them - next time, go chew in your boot, I’m going somewhere else,” Hadley said. |
| “The 53 MPs who voted for Malcolm Turnbull have short memories.” | “The 53 MPs who voted for Malcolm Turnbull have short memories.” |
| Particular attention was given to Scott Morrison, a regular on Hadley’s morning show, warning him that if he takes a job as treasurer in the Turnbull government, as he’s tipped to do, that his standing in the electorate will fall drastically. | Particular attention was given to Scott Morrison, a regular on Hadley’s morning show, warning him that if he takes a job as treasurer in the Turnbull government, as he’s tipped to do, that his standing in the electorate will fall drastically. |
| Now Hadley is doing a name and shame exercise - calling out anyone who voted for Turnbull and urging listeners to ring their errant MPs and give them a bollocking. | Now Hadley is doing a name and shame exercise - calling out anyone who voted for Turnbull and urging listeners to ring their errant MPs and give them a bollocking. |
| 12.46am BST00:46 | 12.46am BST00:46 |
| Bill Shorten tells his partyroom they can hold their heads high. They picked Turnbull not because they “worked out they’re out of touch” but because they panicked. | Bill Shorten tells his partyroom they can hold their heads high. They picked Turnbull not because they “worked out they’re out of touch” but because they panicked. |
| They panicked because they know that their sterile philosophy of dividing the community has gone down very poorly. | They panicked because they know that their sterile philosophy of dividing the community has gone down very poorly. |
| 12.39am BST00:39 | 12.39am BST00:39 |
| Bill Shorten is speaking now for the first time since the leadership coup. | Bill Shorten is speaking now for the first time since the leadership coup. |
| A new leader of the Liberal party. There’s no new direction. It may not be the same leader but it is in fact the same message from the Liberal Party. This country has been going nowhere for the last two years. You know the story, we see it everyday in the suburbs and the streets. Unemployment has gone up, debt and deficit has gone up. Even the NBN’s doubled incost since before the last election. We’ve seen growth down, real wage income growth down, we’ve seen confidence down. And yet Malcolm Turnbull has said that the problem is only in the style not the substance. This country needs no more showmen, it actually just needs substance. | A new leader of the Liberal party. There’s no new direction. It may not be the same leader but it is in fact the same message from the Liberal Party. This country has been going nowhere for the last two years. You know the story, we see it everyday in the suburbs and the streets. Unemployment has gone up, debt and deficit has gone up. Even the NBN’s doubled incost since before the last election. We’ve seen growth down, real wage income growth down, we’ve seen confidence down. And yet Malcolm Turnbull has said that the problem is only in the style not the substance. This country needs no more showmen, it actually just needs substance. |
| 12.32am BST00:32 | 12.32am BST00:32 |
| NSW premier, fellow northern Sydney MP and surfing buddy Mike Baird has taken to Facebook to offer his thoughts to Tony Abbott. | NSW premier, fellow northern Sydney MP and surfing buddy Mike Baird has taken to Facebook to offer his thoughts to Tony Abbott. |
| Politics can be brutal. | Politics can be brutal. |
| What can be lost in the rough and tumble is the people, and the relationships. | What can be lost in the rough and tumble is the people, and the relationships. |
| I’ve known Tony Abbott for close to 15 years and I am proud to call him a mate. He will be hurting. So will his wonderful wife Margie and his girls. As their friend, I hurt with them. | I’ve known Tony Abbott for close to 15 years and I am proud to call him a mate. He will be hurting. So will his wonderful wife Margie and his girls. As their friend, I hurt with them. |
| Many of those throwing stones don’t see the heart behind the man who has spent decades volunteering at the local surf club or working a shift with the Rural Fire Service… not for political gain, but for the simple reason that he loves his community. | Many of those throwing stones don’t see the heart behind the man who has spent decades volunteering at the local surf club or working a shift with the Rural Fire Service… not for political gain, but for the simple reason that he loves his community. |
| This desire to serve, mixed with a deep love of Australia, took him into politics, and ultimately to the highest elected office in the land. Not once have I sensed it was due to a thirst for power. Rather, he has an unquenchable desire to give back. This has always been grounded in a deep humility. | This desire to serve, mixed with a deep love of Australia, took him into politics, and ultimately to the highest elected office in the land. Not once have I sensed it was due to a thirst for power. Rather, he has an unquenchable desire to give back. This has always been grounded in a deep humility. |
| I do look forward to working closely with Malcolm. He will lead with distinction and I anticipate great things for Australia. | I do look forward to working closely with Malcolm. He will lead with distinction and I anticipate great things for Australia. |
| But right now, I say to Tony… thanks for always putting your hand up to serve. Thanks for loving your country. And thanks for being a good mate. | But right now, I say to Tony… thanks for always putting your hand up to serve. Thanks for loving your country. And thanks for being a good mate. |
| 12.29am BST00:29 | 12.29am BST00:29 |
| We have just been digging into the history books to work out the protocol for the resignation and swearing in. Usually, the vanquished goes out to the governor general to resign before the new PM is sworn in. | We have just been digging into the history books to work out the protocol for the resignation and swearing in. Usually, the vanquished goes out to the governor general to resign before the new PM is sworn in. |
| In the case of Julia Gillard in 2013 for example, while she gave her famous press conference on the night of the coup, a staffer went out to tell the governor general Quentin Bryce of the events. Straight after that press conference, Gillard went to see Bryce. Job done, she had a glass of red. | In the case of Julia Gillard in 2013 for example, while she gave her famous press conference on the night of the coup, a staffer went out to tell the governor general Quentin Bryce of the events. Straight after that press conference, Gillard went to see Bryce. Job done, she had a glass of red. |
| Prior to Gillard, Kevin Rudd also went straight to the GG after his press conference on the day of the change. | Prior to Gillard, Kevin Rudd also went straight to the GG after his press conference on the day of the change. |
| We are still unclear when or if Tony Abbott will go out to see the current incumbent, Sir Peter Cosgrove. Presumably that job needs to be done before Turnbull can lead question time. | We are still unclear when or if Tony Abbott will go out to see the current incumbent, Sir Peter Cosgrove. Presumably that job needs to be done before Turnbull can lead question time. |
| Updated at 12.33am BST | Updated at 12.33am BST |
| 12.12am BST00:12 | 12.12am BST00:12 |
| Let’s just recap what we expect of this Tuesday: | Let’s just recap what we expect of this Tuesday: |
| 12.08am BST00:08 | 12.08am BST00:08 |
| Mike Bowers was up early ready to catch Tony Abbott for his morning ride. There was no sign. You have seen Julie Bishop’s comments on his state of mind. Here is Kevin Andrews on his former boss: | Mike Bowers was up early ready to catch Tony Abbott for his morning ride. There was no sign. You have seen Julie Bishop’s comments on his state of mind. Here is Kevin Andrews on his former boss: |
| Tony was in a reflective mood. He’s been around for a long time. He’s seen the ups and downs of politics as we all have. He said that he believed that we had been a good government in difficult circumstances and I think there was a wide deal of respect for him. | Tony was in a reflective mood. He’s been around for a long time. He’s seen the ups and downs of politics as we all have. He said that he believed that we had been a good government in difficult circumstances and I think there was a wide deal of respect for him. |
| 11.51pm BST23:51 | 11.51pm BST23:51 |
| Carpe diem. | Carpe diem. |
| 11.50pm BST23:50 | 11.50pm BST23:50 |
| What do you really think? | What do you really think? |
| Guardian Australia would love to know what you think about the leadership change through the open thread. | Guardian Australia would love to know what you think about the leadership change through the open thread. |
| Is it justified? Is it the same as Labor’s leadership woes? | Is it justified? Is it the same as Labor’s leadership woes? |
| Related: Open thread: how will Malcolm Turnbull's ousting of Tony Abbott change politics? | Related: Open thread: how will Malcolm Turnbull's ousting of Tony Abbott change politics? |
| 11.35pm BST23:35 | 11.35pm BST23:35 |
| There were tears shed. I'm not enjoying this Karl. | There were tears shed. I'm not enjoying this Karl. |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| Shalailah Medhora has been keeping ears and eyes across many platforms. | Shalailah Medhora has been keeping ears and eyes across many platforms. |
| Here is an exchange between Julie Bishop and Karl Stefanovic on Nine about Tony Abbott’s state of mind after losing the leadership. | Here is an exchange between Julie Bishop and Karl Stefanovic on Nine about Tony Abbott’s state of mind after losing the leadership. |
| He was calm. He was obviously very hurt. Emotionally, this is a very draining time for people and I feel for Tony and I feel for Margie and his daughters. I knew them well, and I know what stresses and strains that the leadership are under. And so it was a very difficult time for him. Of course it was very emotional for everybody involved | He was calm. He was obviously very hurt. Emotionally, this is a very draining time for people and I feel for Tony and I feel for Margie and his daughters. I knew them well, and I know what stresses and strains that the leadership are under. And so it was a very difficult time for him. Of course it was very emotional for everybody involved |
| Karl: Were there tears? | Karl: Were there tears? |
| I think there were tears shed. | I think there were tears shed. |
| Karl: From you? | Karl: From you? |
| I’m not enjoying this Karl. It is a very difficult time. | I’m not enjoying this Karl. It is a very difficult time. |
| 11.29pm BST23:29 | 11.29pm BST23:29 |
| Jockeying part 2. | Jockeying part 2. |
| Small business minister Bruce Billson on Sky wants to keep his portfolio. Please Malcolm. By the way, I really like the deputy leader too. | Small business minister Bruce Billson on Sky wants to keep his portfolio. Please Malcolm. By the way, I really like the deputy leader too. |
| If you’re looking for a bit zip zip and perpetual optimism, that’s my role... I’d love to keep doing my work for small business...I think [Bishop] handled herself with great dignity and grace. | If you’re looking for a bit zip zip and perpetual optimism, that’s my role... I’d love to keep doing my work for small business...I think [Bishop] handled herself with great dignity and grace. |
| 11.22pm BST23:22 | 11.22pm BST23:22 |
| Thanks to Northern Territory News and Cameron Clare. | Thanks to Northern Territory News and Cameron Clare. |
| the front page of today’s NT News #auspol pic.twitter.com/je3ypjU6nT | the front page of today’s NT News #auspol pic.twitter.com/je3ypjU6nT |
| 11.15pm BST23:15 | 11.15pm BST23:15 |
| And so the jockeying begins: another Kevin who is here to help. | And so the jockeying begins: another Kevin who is here to help. |
| Loyal Abbott lieutenant defence minister Kevin Andrews has been in many different media outlets, saying “pick me”. Some might call it shameless. | Loyal Abbott lieutenant defence minister Kevin Andrews has been in many different media outlets, saying “pick me”. Some might call it shameless. |
| Now is not the time for instability in the defence portfolio. | Now is not the time for instability in the defence portfolio. |
| I am prepared to work with him and be this broad church that he talks about … In reaching out to Malcolm, I’m saying, let’s embrace these traditions … I would be happy to continue in this role. | I am prepared to work with him and be this broad church that he talks about … In reaching out to Malcolm, I’m saying, let’s embrace these traditions … I would be happy to continue in this role. |
| Updated at 11.25pm BST | Updated at 11.25pm BST |
| 11.05pm BST23:05 | 11.05pm BST23:05 |
| Bishop: "This is the toughest thing I've had to do in political life." | Bishop: "This is the toughest thing I've had to do in political life." |
| The deputy Liberal leader, Julie Bishop, has spoken to a number of TV shows this morning. | The deputy Liberal leader, Julie Bishop, has spoken to a number of TV shows this morning. |
| She is laying out the reasons for the need for a change from Tony Abbott, who has yet to be sighted this morning after what was obviously a difficult night. Everyone wants to know how the Coalition can attack Labor for leadership instability when the Liberals have replaced a first-term prime minister. | She is laying out the reasons for the need for a change from Tony Abbott, who has yet to be sighted this morning after what was obviously a difficult night. Everyone wants to know how the Coalition can attack Labor for leadership instability when the Liberals have replaced a first-term prime minister. |
| Bishop says this is different because Abbott was told in February that the party was unhappy and was given six months to turn the government around. | Bishop says this is different because Abbott was told in February that the party was unhappy and was given six months to turn the government around. |
| The party took a rather dramatic act over seven months ago when there was a spill motion in the party room that didn’t succeed and no one challenged him for the job at the time. And he asked for six months to turn things around. Well, seven months later, the majority of the party room felt that he hadn’t done that and there are a whole range of matters that made them lose confidence in him and they wanted a change of leader and they were given the opportunity to have their say and that’s what they did yesterday. | The party took a rather dramatic act over seven months ago when there was a spill motion in the party room that didn’t succeed and no one challenged him for the job at the time. And he asked for six months to turn things around. Well, seven months later, the majority of the party room felt that he hadn’t done that and there are a whole range of matters that made them lose confidence in him and they wanted a change of leader and they were given the opportunity to have their say and that’s what they did yesterday. |
| Jason Clare, who has shadowed Turnbull, tells RN’s Fran Kelly that Labor has learned that it is no good to knife a sitting prime minister. | Jason Clare, who has shadowed Turnbull, tells RN’s Fran Kelly that Labor has learned that it is no good to knife a sitting prime minister. |
| We’ve seen this movie before, Fran. | We’ve seen this movie before, Fran. |
| Updated at 11.24pm BST | Updated at 11.24pm BST |
| 10.50pm BST22:50 | 10.50pm BST22:50 |
| It’s a sign! #MarriageEquality | It’s a sign! #MarriageEquality |
| 10.44pm BST22:44 | 10.44pm BST22:44 |
| Good morning my friends, | Good morning my friends, |
| It’s only Tuesday and we have a new prime minister. It was a brutal day, as they always are when an incumbent is toppled. It turns out, Canberra games were not media fiction, as Tony Abbott had suggested. In the end, it was swift. As we watched Abbott in question time, very few knew that Julie Bishop had told him beforehand that he no longer had the confidence of the party. She laid out his options. After QT, Turnbull followed Abbott out of the chamber to give him the news. | It’s only Tuesday and we have a new prime minister. It was a brutal day, as they always are when an incumbent is toppled. It turns out, Canberra games were not media fiction, as Tony Abbott had suggested. In the end, it was swift. As we watched Abbott in question time, very few knew that Julie Bishop had told him beforehand that he no longer had the confidence of the party. She laid out his options. After QT, Turnbull followed Abbott out of the chamber to give him the news. |
| Mike Bowers’ prescient shot of the two men leaving question time signalled the end was nigh for Abbott. | Mike Bowers’ prescient shot of the two men leaving question time signalled the end was nigh for Abbott. |
| Turnbull quickly declared his intention to challenge after question time. His pitch was to provide economic leadership, a true liberal government and traditional consultative cabinet. In the end, he won 54-44. | Turnbull quickly declared his intention to challenge after question time. His pitch was to provide economic leadership, a true liberal government and traditional consultative cabinet. In the end, he won 54-44. |
| This morning, Turnbull gave a brief doorstop. He repeated his expectation that the Coalition government would see out its term. | This morning, Turnbull gave a brief doorstop. He repeated his expectation that the Coalition government would see out its term. |
| He was asked, is this a dream come true for you? | He was asked, is this a dream come true for you? |
| This is a turn of events that I did not expect I have to tell you but it’s one that I’m privileged to undertake and one that I am certainly up to. | This is a turn of events that I did not expect I have to tell you but it’s one that I’m privileged to undertake and one that I am certainly up to. |
| Turnbull was asked to explain to the Australian people exactly what happened (given the Coalition had eviscerated Labor for ousting a first-term prime minister). | Turnbull was asked to explain to the Australian people exactly what happened (given the Coalition had eviscerated Labor for ousting a first-term prime minister). |
| There has been a change of prime minister but we are a very very strong government a very strong country with a great potential and we will realise that potential working very hard together. | There has been a change of prime minister but we are a very very strong government a very strong country with a great potential and we will realise that potential working very hard together. |
| Turnbull (and Abbott’s) deputy leader, Julie Bishop is explaining her actions. | Turnbull (and Abbott’s) deputy leader, Julie Bishop is explaining her actions. |
| This is the toughest thing I’ve had to do in political life … it’s a very emotional time for us all, its very difficult. | This is the toughest thing I’ve had to do in political life … it’s a very emotional time for us all, its very difficult. |
| There are many outings this morning. The front lawn of parliament is a sea of morning television programs and politicians, justifying, promoting, excusing. Mike Bowers is out there and we are both on Twitter @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. | There are many outings this morning. The front lawn of parliament is a sea of morning television programs and politicians, justifying, promoting, excusing. Mike Bowers is out there and we are both on Twitter @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. |
| Beverages are needed after the night before. Stick to us like glue. Who knows what could happen? | Beverages are needed after the night before. Stick to us like glue. Who knows what could happen? |
| Updated at 11.23pm BST | Updated at 11.23pm BST |