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| Malcolm Turnbull gets down to work as Tony Abbott declares he will stay – politics live | Malcolm Turnbull gets down to work as Tony Abbott declares he will stay – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.29am BST00:29 | |
| That great Country party leader Dave Anthony | |
| Queenslander and Kennedy MP Bob Katter has been complaining about the National party rolling over for the Liberals in two hours during their negotiations on the coalition agreement. | |
| The Nats managed to get the responsibility for water moved from environment to agriculture as well as promises to maintain policies on marriage equality and climate change. | |
| Their jobs are more important to them than the survival of rural Australia. | |
| Katter, who is a former National party member, put out a press release lamenting the strength of the former Country party, which became the Nats. | |
| The National Party rolled over in two hours. We’re deeply, deeply, disappointed. Minister Joyce raised our expectations, he made a very strong statement that they weren’t going to just walk into a Coalition Agreement and yet two hours later they had a Coalition, but with virtually nothing to show for it. | |
| The last time we had a Country Party and Dave Anthony was leader, negotiations went on for two weeks and it was very doubtful at the end whether there was going to be a Coalition, because the Country Party were quite happy to sit as a minority government if they did not get what they needed for rural Australia. | |
| Of course that Dave Anthony was Doug Anthony, leader of the Country party from 1971-84. He is also father of the former Shenhua lobbyist, now president of the National party, Barry Anthony. Err, sorry. Larry Anthony. | |
| 12.18am BST00:18 | |
| Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer did touch on that story yesterday, where the chief whip Scott Buchholz told her to express more breast milk for her three month old baby so she did not miss votes. Buchholz did not know that Labor had changed the rules which ensured proxy votes for feeding mothers. | |
| Women can be mothers, and they can be parliamentarians. They can do both together, that is the take-out. | |
| 12.14am BST00:14 | |
| Peter Dutton is coming up on Ray Hadley so that should be entertaining, given Hadley is on the warpath over the leadership coup. | |
| Oops! Scratch that. Hadley is not on today. He may have popped a bile valve. | |
| There is a whole lot around this morning on the fury of the right wing MPs, who I’m told are demanding other MPs tell them how they voted. Some predicted the rise of the right wing party, given Turnbull’s damp tendencies on social issues. | |
| And we really want to go down that path again, don’t we? | |
| 12.01am BST00:01 | |
| Rising Liberal star Kelly O’Dwyer has just told Sky: | |
| We don’t want to go through the entrails of this. | |
| To which, Bowers yelled: “We are in the entrails business.” | |
| Firstly, the transition process. | |
| As Lenore reported, Turnbull is also constructing a new prime ministerial office, and sources did not discount that former treasury secretary Martin Parkinson could be offered the position of chief of staff – although no offer has been made. Remember treasurer Joe Hockey flagged he would terminate Parkinson’s contract before the 2013 election at the behest of Abbott’s office. | |
| We know Tony Nutt, the NSW Liberal Party state director and former principal private secretary to John Howard, is back in the PM’s office as director of transition. Remember Nutt was touted to come back but Peta Credlin was standing guard. | |
| The outgoing head of the communications department, Drew Clarke, will act as chief of staff until a permanent one can be found. | |
| After he is done with the transition, don’t be suprised to see Nutt replace Liberal director Brian Loughnane, Credlin’s other half. | |
| Following Turnbull’s comments on his enthusiasm for women in positions of influence and power, O’Dwyer, Michaela Cash and Marise Payne are set for promotions according to the rumours. | |
| Secondly, the entrails business and that Savva column. | |
| Savva goes through the Abbott’s mistakes and the role taken by his former chief of staff Peta Credlin. | |
| No one was immune from Credlin’s compulsive micromanagement, including him. Bit by bit the internal structures, along with the people who made them work, were dismantled once Abbott became prime minister. | |
| James Boyce was an effective press secretary who had a great relationship with Abbott. He left after an argument with Credlin. One of the Coalition’s most respected operators, Tony O’Leary, left when it was made clear he was superfluous. James Newbury, one of the Coalition’s sharpest researchers cum political advisers, was denied a job with two ministers because Credlin (who could be heard shouting it at the prime minister) reckoned she could not work with either of those offices if he were employed there. | |
| Everything or everybody who impinged on her level of control was removed or contained, including Margie Abbott. On one occasion, Abbott asked an adviser to help Margie with some speaking notes. When Credlin found out, she admonished the adviser, telling him it was not the White House, he did not work for the prime minister’s wife, he worked for the prime minister. | |
| And on Scott Morrison’s role: | |
| [Bishop] shifted to Turnbull. Others, such as Andrew Robb and Morrison, did not shift. Nor did they mobilise against Turnbull or for Abbott. Late on Monday, as it was all crashing down around him, Abbott offered Morrison the deputy leadership and by implication the treasurer’s job, as deputies can choose their portfolios. Morrison made Abbott spell it out. Yes, Abbott wanted him as treasurer. Morrison clarified Bishop’s position — that she was not on a ticket with Turnbull — then sought counsel from friends including former Peter Costello adviser David Gazard and Costello himself, who has acted as a mentor. | |
| Morrison did not want to run against Bishop, does not want to be deputy. He was uncomfortable about dudding Joe Hockey like that, particularly given the repeated assurances from Abbott to Hockey. It was all too late. He refused. He told Abbott he would vote for him and would tell his supporters what he was doing, but he would not be advising (telling) them how to vote. | |
| Entrails. | |
| 11.36pm BST23:36 | 11.36pm BST23:36 |
| Lenore Taylor has written about the polls, which on a two party preferred basis, have the Turnbull government at 50-50 compared with 53-47 under Tony Abbott. | Lenore Taylor has written about the polls, which on a two party preferred basis, have the Turnbull government at 50-50 compared with 53-47 under Tony Abbott. |
| One of Turnbull’s key supporters Arthur Sinodinos says the government is hoping to remain predictable and even boring. | One of Turnbull’s key supporters Arthur Sinodinos says the government is hoping to remain predictable and even boring. |
| What we want is boring, predictable, competent government,” said senator Arthur Sinodinos, former chief of staff to John Howard and close Turnbull supporter. | What we want is boring, predictable, competent government,” said senator Arthur Sinodinos, former chief of staff to John Howard and close Turnbull supporter. |
| He’s been leader once before and there were fireworks and he’s had six years to reflect on that. When you get a second break like this you really want to hold on,” Sinodinos told Sky News. | He’s been leader once before and there were fireworks and he’s had six years to reflect on that. When you get a second break like this you really want to hold on,” Sinodinos told Sky News. |
| Certainly the Turnbull leadership appears to have made question time a little more boring, though it is early days. When I suggested that to a Liberal MP yesterday, he said “that’s exactly what we want”. | Certainly the Turnbull leadership appears to have made question time a little more boring, though it is early days. When I suggested that to a Liberal MP yesterday, he said “that’s exactly what we want”. |
| Liberals are hoping that the leadership change will put a lid on the febrile political era that included Rudd-Gillard-Rudd-Abbott. I am of the opinion that Tony Abbott would never have got elected without the shambolic instability in the Labor government, notwithstanding Gillard’s ability to get through some big reforms. | Liberals are hoping that the leadership change will put a lid on the febrile political era that included Rudd-Gillard-Rudd-Abbott. I am of the opinion that Tony Abbott would never have got elected without the shambolic instability in the Labor government, notwithstanding Gillard’s ability to get through some big reforms. |
| The challenge for Turnbull though is to get his own mandate. That means there may be a tug of war between the need to lay down better agenda balanced against the seduction of an earlier election if things are going well. | The challenge for Turnbull though is to get his own mandate. That means there may be a tug of war between the need to lay down better agenda balanced against the seduction of an earlier election if things are going well. |
| 11.22pm BST23:22 | 11.22pm BST23:22 |
| Furphy alert: If Cory Bernardi replaced Tony Abbott they would have got a bounce. | Furphy alert: If Cory Bernardi replaced Tony Abbott they would have got a bounce. |
| 11.15pm BST23:15 | 11.15pm BST23:15 |
| Morning politics | Morning politics |
| Good morning political peeps, | Good morning political peeps, |
| As Malcolm Turnbull crafts his frontbench and brings people into key positions in the bureaucracy and the party, Liberal MPs try to adjust to the new regime and work out what the hell went on this week. The right wing of the party is cranky and while you may hear some of the right suggesting they are getting on with the job, there are a small number of very angry MPs demanding to know how everyone voted - Ray Hadley style. So much for secret ballots. | As Malcolm Turnbull crafts his frontbench and brings people into key positions in the bureaucracy and the party, Liberal MPs try to adjust to the new regime and work out what the hell went on this week. The right wing of the party is cranky and while you may hear some of the right suggesting they are getting on with the job, there are a small number of very angry MPs demanding to know how everyone voted - Ray Hadley style. So much for secret ballots. |
| At the centre of the recriminations is Scott Morrison. The right feel he has betrayed Abbott because even though he voted for the former PM, he ran dead rather than actively pushing his supporters to swing behind Abbott. Some accuse Morrison of doing a deal with Turnbull. Given he is almost certainly getting the treasurer’s job, we can safely assume the speculation around a deal could be correct. | At the centre of the recriminations is Scott Morrison. The right feel he has betrayed Abbott because even though he voted for the former PM, he ran dead rather than actively pushing his supporters to swing behind Abbott. Some accuse Morrison of doing a deal with Turnbull. Given he is almost certainly getting the treasurer’s job, we can safely assume the speculation around a deal could be correct. |
| At the same time, Tony Abbott has told News that he will stay in politics and use the next period to spend time with his family and have a think about his future. Tick, tick, tick. While he has not been in the chamber since the leadership change, he has been allocated a backbench spot next to Andrew Laming. Every cloud has a silver lining. | At the same time, Tony Abbott has told News that he will stay in politics and use the next period to spend time with his family and have a think about his future. Tick, tick, tick. While he has not been in the chamber since the leadership change, he has been allocated a backbench spot next to Andrew Laming. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| Everyone is trying to guess whether Turnbull will change policies over time. Or not. Indigenous leaders are pressing him to state where he will take the portfolio and most importantly the recognition campaign. On marriage equality, a non-government dominated senate committee has urged the Coalition to avoid a plebiscite on the grounds it would be divisive and costly. | Everyone is trying to guess whether Turnbull will change policies over time. Or not. Indigenous leaders are pressing him to state where he will take the portfolio and most importantly the recognition campaign. On marriage equality, a non-government dominated senate committee has urged the Coalition to avoid a plebiscite on the grounds it would be divisive and costly. |
| Independent senator Glenn Lazarus’ report says: | Independent senator Glenn Lazarus’ report says: |
| the matter of marriage is not one which should be decided by a popular vote. | the matter of marriage is not one which should be decided by a popular vote. |
| Slowly, the focus turns to Bill Shorten and Labor. Shorten has played down Turnbull’s popularity, reprising the old drover’s dog line first employed by former Labor leader Bill Hayden about Bob Hawke when he took the leadership in 1983. For those of you under 30, Hayden said a drover’s dog could have won the 1983 election for Labor, so unpopular was Malcolm Fraser’s government. | Slowly, the focus turns to Bill Shorten and Labor. Shorten has played down Turnbull’s popularity, reprising the old drover’s dog line first employed by former Labor leader Bill Hayden about Bob Hawke when he took the leadership in 1983. For those of you under 30, Hayden said a drover’s dog could have won the 1983 election for Labor, so unpopular was Malcolm Fraser’s government. |
| Shorten also suggested: | Shorten also suggested: |
| If Cory Bernardi had replaced Tony Abbott they would have got a bounce in the polls. | If Cory Bernardi had replaced Tony Abbott they would have got a bounce in the polls. |
| Personally, I think that is taking is taking things a little far. | Personally, I think that is taking is taking things a little far. |
| Asked if Turnbull made his job harder, Shorten said through gritted teeth “leading the opposition is always a hard job”. | Asked if Turnbull made his job harder, Shorten said through gritted teeth “leading the opposition is always a hard job”. |
| There’s a whole lot out there and a cracking column by Niki Savva in The Oz that has some fascinating details on Abbott’s downfall. | There’s a whole lot out there and a cracking column by Niki Savva in The Oz that has some fascinating details on Abbott’s downfall. |
| Also today, the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council led by Paris Aristotle is meeting on the nuts and bolts of settling 12,000 Syrian refugees. | Also today, the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council led by Paris Aristotle is meeting on the nuts and bolts of settling 12,000 Syrian refugees. |
| Mike Bowers is dripping with cameras and has already filed some shots I will bring you shortly. Join us on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. Here we go. | Mike Bowers is dripping with cameras and has already filed some shots I will bring you shortly. Join us on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers. Here we go. |
| Updated at 11.19pm BST | Updated at 11.19pm BST |