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John Howard says a change of leader is not the answer to Liberals' woes John Howard says a change of leader is not the answer to Liberals' woes
(about 14 hours later)
Australia’s former prime minister John Howard has issued a public warning to his colleagues to get their collective act together, saying a change of leader is not the answer to the Turnbull government’s woes.Australia’s former prime minister John Howard has issued a public warning to his colleagues to get their collective act together, saying a change of leader is not the answer to the Turnbull government’s woes.
With the government bracing for the likely loss of its 30th Newspoll early next week, Howard said there wasn’t any evidence that people wanted a change of leader: “We have done that and we still have an electoral challenge.”With the government bracing for the likely loss of its 30th Newspoll early next week, Howard said there wasn’t any evidence that people wanted a change of leader: “We have done that and we still have an electoral challenge.”
He said he did not regard the next federal election as unwinnable “but there are a lot of our supporters who are nervous”. He said he did not regard the next federal election as unwinnable, “but there are a lot of our supporters who are nervous”.
“There’s a collective responsibility to get the act together,” Howard said. “It’s not just the responsibility of the leader.”“There’s a collective responsibility to get the act together,” Howard said. “It’s not just the responsibility of the leader.”
He said Malcolm Turnbull had to “inspire and encourage” but he also had to understand the balance between his authority as the prime minister and the general tolerance of the Liberal party.He said Malcolm Turnbull had to “inspire and encourage” but he also had to understand the balance between his authority as the prime minister and the general tolerance of the Liberal party.
The government needed to focus on collective effort rather than the factional differences between small “l” Liberals and social conservatives. “They’ve got to work together in I think a far more purposeful way that has been evident over the last few months.” The government needed to focus on collective effort rather than the factional differences between small “l” Liberals and social conservatives. “They’ve got to work together in, I think, a far more purposeful way that has been evident over the last few months.”
The negative poll metric looms because Turnbull invoked a significant losing streak in Newspoll as one justification for taking the Liberal leadership from Tony Abbott in 2015.The negative poll metric looms because Turnbull invoked a significant losing streak in Newspoll as one justification for taking the Liberal leadership from Tony Abbott in 2015.
Turnbull has sought to get out ahead of the anticipated milestone urging MPs in an interview with the Australian Financial Review to look past the possible 30th Newspoll defeat and claiming he can beat Labor in a contest focused on the economy.
Turnbull rejected criticisms by Abbott that the Coalition is “in government but not in power”, claiming to have “got the parliament working” with $34bn in budget savings and 200 bills passed.
“When I stood up and nominated to be leader of the Liberal party in 2015, I said that I would deliver economic leadership and I would deliver traditional cabinet government, among other things,” he reportedly said.
“Economic leadership: we have demonstrated that, I think, very, very convincingly,” he said, citing the “strongest jobs growth in the nation’s history”.
Speaking to Triple M Melbourne on Friday Turnbull said Howard was a “source of very good advice” and claimed he had restored “traditional cabinet government” modelled on Howard’s.
Anticipating the milestone, Abbott has been at the forefront of renewed internal mischief by conservatives on coal-fired power, and the government is again at public odds on energy policy.Anticipating the milestone, Abbott has been at the forefront of renewed internal mischief by conservatives on coal-fired power, and the government is again at public odds on energy policy.
Some government MPs believe the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, is positioning herself as a possible leadership contender, although senior moderates insist that Turnbull’s own faction remains solidly behind the prime minister.Some government MPs believe the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, is positioning herself as a possible leadership contender, although senior moderates insist that Turnbull’s own faction remains solidly behind the prime minister.
The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton – regarded internally as a future leadership prospect – has twice this week pledged loyalty to Turnbull.The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton – regarded internally as a future leadership prospect – has twice this week pledged loyalty to Turnbull.
“I accepted an offer from Tony Abbott when he was prime minister to be in his cabinet, and I only did so on the basis of loyalty to the leader,” Dutton said on Thursday. “If I can’t be loyal to the leader, then my judgment is I resign.“I accepted an offer from Tony Abbott when he was prime minister to be in his cabinet, and I only did so on the basis of loyalty to the leader,” Dutton said on Thursday. “If I can’t be loyal to the leader, then my judgment is I resign.
“Now I’ve accepted the same commission from this prime minister and I do it on the basis of loyalty as well, and I need to work as part of a team to turn [the government’s fortunes] around.”“Now I’ve accepted the same commission from this prime minister and I do it on the basis of loyalty as well, and I need to work as part of a team to turn [the government’s fortunes] around.”
Dutton said if the government worked together as a team, it would defeat Bill Shorten and Labor at the next federal election.Dutton said if the government worked together as a team, it would defeat Bill Shorten and Labor at the next federal election.
The government has not only lagged Labor in Newspoll. The Coalition lost every Guardian Essential poll in 2017 on the two-party-preferred measure, and has now lost lost 77 polls in a row.The government has not only lagged Labor in Newspoll. The Coalition lost every Guardian Essential poll in 2017 on the two-party-preferred measure, and has now lost lost 77 polls in a row.
While the trend against the government appears hard-baked, Turnbull, however, remains consistently ahead of the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, as preferred prime minister. While the trend against the government appears hard-baked, Turnbull remains consistently ahead of the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, as preferred prime minister.
On Friday moderate Liberal and leader in the House, Christopher Pyne, said that “nobody cares about the Newspolls” and dismissing reports Dutton could lead the government.
“We have a leader and we will win the next election,” he told Channel Nine. “We are very happy with the leadership of the Liberal party. We are sticking with it.”
John HowardJohn Howard
Liberal partyLiberal party
Australian politicsAustralian politics
Tony AbbottTony Abbott
Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull
CoalitionCoalition
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