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Tony Abbott confirms he intends to stay in parliament and recontest Warringah seat Tony Abbott confirms he intends to stay in parliament and will recontest Warringah seat
(35 minutes later)
Tony Abbott has ended rolling speculation about his intentions by confirming that he intends to stay in the Australian parliament rather than quit politics.Tony Abbott has ended rolling speculation about his intentions by confirming that he intends to stay in the Australian parliament rather than quit politics.
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The former prime minister posted on his website on Sunday making his immediate plans plain – Abbott said he would recontest his seat of Warringah.The former prime minister posted on his website on Sunday making his immediate plans plain – Abbott said he would recontest his seat of Warringah.
Abbott said in the post he’d been heartened by support and encouragement from the community.Abbott said in the post he’d been heartened by support and encouragement from the community.
“After leaving the prime ministership, I said that I would spend some time talking to family, trusted colleagues and local Liberals about my future,” Abbott said in the post.“After leaving the prime ministership, I said that I would spend some time talking to family, trusted colleagues and local Liberals about my future,” Abbott said in the post.
“I have been heartened by the support and encouragement I’ve received to continue to serve the country as a member of parliament,” he said.“I have been heartened by the support and encouragement I’ve received to continue to serve the country as a member of parliament,” he said.
“Therefore, I am renominating to represent the people of Warringah for another term as their Liberal MP.”“Therefore, I am renominating to represent the people of Warringah for another term as their Liberal MP.”
Abbott said he was “proud of my work to establish the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust – that has done so much to improve the amenity of former military land on North Head, Middle Head and Georges Heights.”Abbott said he was “proud of my work to establish the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust – that has done so much to improve the amenity of former military land on North Head, Middle Head and Georges Heights.”
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“Should I be renominated and elected, I am looking forward to working with premier Mike Baird to ensure that the Warringah Peninsula gets better transport links to the rest of Sydney.“Should I be renominated and elected, I am looking forward to working with premier Mike Baird to ensure that the Warringah Peninsula gets better transport links to the rest of Sydney.
“It has been a great honour to serve the people of Warringah for 22 years and I hope to retain their trust and confidence.”“It has been a great honour to serve the people of Warringah for 22 years and I hope to retain their trust and confidence.”
Abbott’s decision to stay in politics makes the federal election year potentially more complicated for the current prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.Abbott’s decision to stay in politics makes the federal election year potentially more complicated for the current prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Abbott has been positioning himself since losing the leadership as the self-styled leader of the government’s conservative faction, a grouping which shows little tolerance for Turnbull’s very tentative forays in the direction of the political centre.Abbott has been positioning himself since losing the leadership as the self-styled leader of the government’s conservative faction, a grouping which shows little tolerance for Turnbull’s very tentative forays in the direction of the political centre.
Abbott lost the leadership of the Liberal party after more than 12 months of negative opinion polls – a development which followed the breaking of key election promises, the unveiling of a deeply unpopular first budget, and widespread internal complaints about a “command and control” approach to leadership from the prime minister’s office.Abbott lost the leadership of the Liberal party after more than 12 months of negative opinion polls – a development which followed the breaking of key election promises, the unveiling of a deeply unpopular first budget, and widespread internal complaints about a “command and control” approach to leadership from the prime minister’s office.
After losing the prime ministership, Abbott promised not to be a wrecker – referencing the recent destructive experience of Labor’s roiling leadership tensions between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, which ultimately cost the ALP government.After losing the prime ministership, Abbott promised not to be a wrecker – referencing the recent destructive experience of Labor’s roiling leadership tensions between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, which ultimately cost the ALP government.
But despite those undertakings, Abbott has remained an active participant in politics post-leadership, intervening to defend his legacy as prime minister, and, periodically, outlining alternative propositions to those being articulated by the new government leadership.But despite those undertakings, Abbott has remained an active participant in politics post-leadership, intervening to defend his legacy as prime minister, and, periodically, outlining alternative propositions to those being articulated by the new government leadership.