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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Malcolm Turnbull says he regrets citing Newspoll as reason for dumping Abbott | Malcolm Turnbull says he regrets citing Newspoll as reason for dumping Abbott |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Prime minister says ‘substantive’ reasons for challenge were lack of economic leadership and poor cabinet consultation | |
| Gareth Hutchens | |
| Mon 11 Dec 2017 08.38 GMT | |
| Last modified on Mon 11 Dec 2017 09.08 GMT | |
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| Malcolm Turnbull says he regrets citing 30 consecutive losses in the Newspoll when he challenged Tony Abbott for the prime ministership in late 2015, because that metric has become a political distraction. | Malcolm Turnbull says he regrets citing 30 consecutive losses in the Newspoll when he challenged Tony Abbott for the prime ministership in late 2015, because that metric has become a political distraction. |
| He said he challenged Abbott two years ago because Abbott was not providing the economic leadership Australia needed and he was not treating cabinet properly. | He said he challenged Abbott two years ago because Abbott was not providing the economic leadership Australia needed and he was not treating cabinet properly. |
| Turnbull said his government had turned things around in the past two years, with unemployment falling to its lowest level since January 2013, business confidence hitting its highest level in 20 years and cabinet now working like it used to under the former prime minister John Howard. | Turnbull said his government had turned things around in the past two years, with unemployment falling to its lowest level since January 2013, business confidence hitting its highest level in 20 years and cabinet now working like it used to under the former prime minister John Howard. |
| He said he wished he did not cite the loss of “30 Newspolls in a row” because that was not the reason why Abbott had to go. | He said he wished he did not cite the loss of “30 Newspolls in a row” because that was not the reason why Abbott had to go. |
| “I do regret having said it,” Turnbull admitted on Monday, during a live internet radio interview with NewsCorp columnist Miranda Devine. “Only because it allowed people to focus on that, rather than the substantive reasons [for my challenge]. The substantive reasons that I stated were related to economic leadership and governance. | “I do regret having said it,” Turnbull admitted on Monday, during a live internet radio interview with NewsCorp columnist Miranda Devine. “Only because it allowed people to focus on that, rather than the substantive reasons [for my challenge]. The substantive reasons that I stated were related to economic leadership and governance. |
| “I don’t believe in captain’s calls. I believe in using the system of cabinet, which John Howard used so well, to make decisions.” | “I don’t believe in captain’s calls. I believe in using the system of cabinet, which John Howard used so well, to make decisions.” |
| Last week’s Newspoll was the 24th consecutive Newspoll in which the Coalition has trailed Labor. | Last week’s Newspoll was the 24th consecutive Newspoll in which the Coalition has trailed Labor. |
| Turnbull’s critics are increasingly pointing to his run of consecutive Newspoll losses to say his time is running out – by his own metric. | Turnbull’s critics are increasingly pointing to his run of consecutive Newspoll losses to say his time is running out – by his own metric. |
| Turnbull said he did not think Abbott was a “difficult problem” for him but he would not be inviting Abbott back into cabinet. | Turnbull said he did not think Abbott was a “difficult problem” for him but he would not be inviting Abbott back into cabinet. |
| “I’m focused on bringing new, younger people into the cabinet and ministry,” he said. | “I’m focused on bringing new, younger people into the cabinet and ministry,” he said. |
| He would not speculate on who may be promoted in a reshuffle over the summer break. He declined to say if Christian Porter would replace the attorney general, George Brandis, if Brandis decided to resign. | He would not speculate on who may be promoted in a reshuffle over the summer break. He declined to say if Christian Porter would replace the attorney general, George Brandis, if Brandis decided to resign. |
| “Everyone wants prime ministers to speculate about reshuffles and prime ministers never do,” he said. “The ministers are all doing a fantastic job.” | “Everyone wants prime ministers to speculate about reshuffles and prime ministers never do,” he said. “The ministers are all doing a fantastic job.” |
| Both the recent Newspoll and the Fairfax-Ipsos poll have Labor ahead of the Coalition on the two-party preferred measure, 53% to the Coalition’s 47%. Last month’s Guardian Essential poll had Labor ahead 54% to 46%. | Both the recent Newspoll and the Fairfax-Ipsos poll have Labor ahead of the Coalition on the two-party preferred measure, 53% to the Coalition’s 47%. Last month’s Guardian Essential poll had Labor ahead 54% to 46%. |
| The Ipsos poll also recorded 71% support for the idea that prime ministers should be allowed to govern for a full term, rather than being turfed out in leadership contests prior to elections. | The Ipsos poll also recorded 71% support for the idea that prime ministers should be allowed to govern for a full term, rather than being turfed out in leadership contests prior to elections. |
| The Fairfax-Ipsos poll contained questions about preferred leaders for the Liberal party and the survey had the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, ranked ahead of Turnbull as the most popular choice, with 32% support compared to Turnbull’s 29%. | The Fairfax-Ipsos poll contained questions about preferred leaders for the Liberal party and the survey had the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, ranked ahead of Turnbull as the most popular choice, with 32% support compared to Turnbull’s 29%. |
| Abbott polled at 14%, favoured conservative choice Peter Dutton at 5% and the treasurer, Scott Morrison, at 4%. | Abbott polled at 14%, favoured conservative choice Peter Dutton at 5% and the treasurer, Scott Morrison, at 4%. |
| Australian politics | |
| Malcolm Turnbull | |
| Tony Abbott | |
| Coalition | |
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