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Q&A recap: Arthur Sinodinos refuses to rule out Tony Abbott's return Q&A recap: Arthur Sinodinos refuses to rule out Tony Abbott's return
(about 3 hours later)
Arthur Sinodinos appeared to give unenthusiastic support for both the actions of George Brandis and the future leadership of Malcolm Turnbull on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday night – refusing to rule out the return of Tony Abbott.Arthur Sinodinos appeared to give unenthusiastic support for both the actions of George Brandis and the future leadership of Malcolm Turnbull on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday night – refusing to rule out the return of Tony Abbott.
Just hours earlier, the solicitor general, Justin Gleeson, announced he would resign over his “irretrievably broken” relationship with the attorney general, which deteriorated after Brandis made a binding legal direction that all government requests for Gleeson’s advice would have to be approved by Brandis’s office.Just hours earlier, the solicitor general, Justin Gleeson, announced he would resign over his “irretrievably broken” relationship with the attorney general, which deteriorated after Brandis made a binding legal direction that all government requests for Gleeson’s advice would have to be approved by Brandis’s office.
When Sinodinos was asked whether Brandis had been to blame for the broken relationship, he responded: “If the attorney general had done something wrong which necessitated his dismissal, the PM would have dismissed him.”When Sinodinos was asked whether Brandis had been to blame for the broken relationship, he responded: “If the attorney general had done something wrong which necessitated his dismissal, the PM would have dismissed him.”
The cabinet secretary went on to say that the media focus on the issue heightened the tension between the pair, and made reconciliation difficult.The cabinet secretary went on to say that the media focus on the issue heightened the tension between the pair, and made reconciliation difficult.
Tanya Plibersek, deputy leader of the opposition, said Brandis should have resigned. “The office of the solicitor general has been about for around 100 years. It’s critical the solicitor general can give frank and fearless advice to government,” she said.Tanya Plibersek, deputy leader of the opposition, said Brandis should have resigned. “The office of the solicitor general has been about for around 100 years. It’s critical the solicitor general can give frank and fearless advice to government,” she said.
“The idea the solicitor general should have to go through the attorney general to give advice to the PM, to the governor general, to departmental heads, to ministers is extraordinary. What if the minister that’s going to the solicitor general thinks the attorney general’s corrupt?”“The idea the solicitor general should have to go through the attorney general to give advice to the PM, to the governor general, to departmental heads, to ministers is extraordinary. What if the minister that’s going to the solicitor general thinks the attorney general’s corrupt?”
The former editor in chief of the Australian, Chris Mitchell, said Turnbull was running a shambolic government but, when asked whether that was a risk to Turnbull’s leadership, he said he didn’t think Abbott would make a comeback.The former editor in chief of the Australian, Chris Mitchell, said Turnbull was running a shambolic government but, when asked whether that was a risk to Turnbull’s leadership, he said he didn’t think Abbott would make a comeback.
“Look, my feeling is that Tony probably isn’t somebody who could rally the numbers,” Mitchell said.“Look, my feeling is that Tony probably isn’t somebody who could rally the numbers,” Mitchell said.
Sinodinos said it was unlikely but left the possibility open. “Will we ever go back to Tony? In politics I’ve learnt through bitter experience you never rule anything in or out,” he said. Sinodinos said it was unlikely but left the possibility open. “Will we ever go back to Tony? In politics I’ve learned through bitter experience you never rule anything in or out,” he said.
“If I had to put money on it, I wouldn’t put money on it for the reasons I mentioned before. But I’m always careful in these things because in life I’ve learnt in politics it’s the thing you least expect that can come back.” “If I had to put money on it, I wouldn’t put money on it for the reasons I mentioned before. But I’m always careful in these things because in life I’ve learned in politics it’s the thing you least expect that can come back.”