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| Tony Abbott launches new attack on Turnbull – but says PM shouldn't be replaced | Tony Abbott launches new attack on Turnbull – but says PM shouldn't be replaced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former prime minister Tony Abbott has again spoken out publicly, urging the Turnbull government to make changes to reconnect with the electorate and offering a plan to stop Labor winning the next election. | Former prime minister Tony Abbott has again spoken out publicly, urging the Turnbull government to make changes to reconnect with the electorate and offering a plan to stop Labor winning the next election. |
| But Abbott, who was rolled by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015 after a string of poor opinion polls, effectively ruled out ousting Turnbull himself as he warned governments should not dump prime ministers who are struggling in the polls. | But Abbott, who was rolled by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015 after a string of poor opinion polls, effectively ruled out ousting Turnbull himself as he warned governments should not dump prime ministers who are struggling in the polls. |
| Turnbull has himself now faced 10 bad polls and last week his ministers openly argued over housing affordability, prompting former Liberal leader John Hewson to call for Turnbull to restore discipline. | Turnbull has himself now faced 10 bad polls and last week his ministers openly argued over housing affordability, prompting former Liberal leader John Hewson to call for Turnbull to restore discipline. |
| “The best way to keep [Bill] Shorten out is not to sack an elected prime minister yet again but to ensure that the government does its job better,” Abbott wrote in News Corp Australia tabloids on Monday. | |
| After a tour of country areas, he said voters “are sick of politicians who change their policies to suit their political convenience”. | |
| “I reckon I spent the best part of eight days listening to a pretty good sample of middle Australia. And people aren’t happy.” | |
| He said people were blaming Labor as much as the government for issues, but he said “there was an expectation that Shorten could soon be in the Lodge”. | |
| Abbott’s five-point plan reflects his more conservative policies and includes axing the Human Rights Commission; cutting renewable energy subsidies to reduce power prices; reforming the Senate to end legislative gridlock; and protecting existing benefits for employees to make it easier for future generations to get work; and “don’t apologise for Australia, celebrate it”. | Abbott’s five-point plan reflects his more conservative policies and includes axing the Human Rights Commission; cutting renewable energy subsidies to reduce power prices; reforming the Senate to end legislative gridlock; and protecting existing benefits for employees to make it easier for future generations to get work; and “don’t apologise for Australia, celebrate it”. |
| Abbott, who came up with the plan following his annual Pollie Pedal charity ride in regional Australia, said: “After eight days on the road I’m more convinced than ever that measures like these would get Australia working again.” | Abbott, who came up with the plan following his annual Pollie Pedal charity ride in regional Australia, said: “After eight days on the road I’m more convinced than ever that measures like these would get Australia working again.” |
| Abbott’s latest intervention in the running of the Turnbull government is unlikely to be rewarded. | |
| In February, Turnbull and senior ministers blasted Abbott for his “sad” provocative outburst. | |
| Abbott used a Sky News interview and a speech to launch a scathing critique of the Coalition’s direction, saying it had become “Labor lite”. | |
| Cabinet minister Darren Chester said the coalition was already focused on being a good government to keep Labor out of office. | |
| “We’ve got to work together as Liberal and National party MPs and ministers who are passionate about Australia’s future and deliver everything we said we’d do – that’s what people expect of their governments,” he told ABC radio on Monday. |