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Scott Morrison says 'Liberal party is on your side' after bitter leadership feud– politics live Scott Morrison says 'Liberal party is on your side' after bitter leadership feud – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Another former Labor prime minister offers some words to the Liberals. This time, it’s Julia Gillard. She says to Malcolm Turnbull that “there is a life after. Best wishes for the days to come”.
Congratulations to @ScottMorrisonMP - always an honour to serve. To the 29th PM, from the 27th PM, @TurnbullMalcolm there is a life after. Best wishes for the days to come.
ABC reporter Jackson Gothe-Snape has tracked down Peter Dutton at a Canberra restaurant. It’s the most we’ve heard from Dutton since his unsuccessful tilt at the leadership.
Dutton has pledged to get behind Morrison. He says the old grudges and bitterness between the conservative and moderate forces are done.
Does he regret what he’s done?
No, I don’t regret it at all. I’m pleased that Scott Morrison has been elected prime minister. I think it’s a good day for this country. I think it’s a turning point and I think it’s a healing point for the Liberal party. I think we now look forward instead of back. Obviously the animosity ran deep in the party from when Malcolm Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott. We now draw a line under all of that.
Just to recap on that first press conference from our prime minister-elect, Scott Morrison.
Morrison will announce his ministry next week, but it looks as Josh Frydenberg will be his treasurer.
He spoke a lot of unity, stability and serving the Australian people, rather than themselves. That’s not surprising, given the past week.
He listed his immediate priority as the drought. He will review the government’s response.
When asked why he helped remove Turnbull, he said he didn’t. He said he was loyal. No real explanation was offered for this radical change in government.
He paid tribute to liberal and conservative values, which he described as the “fair go” and individual choice. He also spoke of playing by the rules – singling out energy companies abusing their market position and mentioning power prices. He also, jarringly, mentioned the rules were important for people parking on the street.
Morrison told Australians they shouldn’t expect to go to the polls any time soon, despite Turnbull’s imminent resignation, which will trigger a byelection.
I asked new prime minister Scott Morrison to explain to the Australian people why his party removed another sitting Prime Minister today. Here is his (very short) answer: pic.twitter.com/ebR45en0OH
Morrison keeps the press conference snappy. Before he leaves, he lets us know the new ministry will be sworn in next week. He also tells us the normal wheels of government will keep on turning. Always a good thing to hear, really.
Morrison is asked why he removed a sitting prime minister.
“We didn’t,” he replies. “We were loyal.”
We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us as leaders.
Is Morrison angry at Turnbull for resigning and possibly losing him a majority in the lower house? Morrison says they’ll be governing with stability and won’t be taking Australians to the polls.
We intend to be governing. And we have got able to do as a fresh new team. So I don’t think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon. The prime minister, as he currently is, has indicated to me that at some time he will be moving away from politics, and I understand and respect that, and I understand it fully.
Morrison is asked whether he will keep conservatives in cabinet to help unify the party.Morrison is asked whether he will keep conservatives in cabinet to help unify the party.
He says it’s important to reflect the conservative and liberal traditions of the party in his team, but says cabinet will be announced in due course.He says it’s important to reflect the conservative and liberal traditions of the party in his team, but says cabinet will be announced in due course.
Scott Morrison praises his predecessor. He described Turnbull as a “great friend”.Scott Morrison praises his predecessor. He described Turnbull as a “great friend”.
He has served his country, in a noble, and professional way.He has served his country, in a noble, and professional way.
He also thanks Peter Dutton, although not quite as forcefully. He says Dutton still has a role to play in the government.He also thanks Peter Dutton, although not quite as forcefully. He says Dutton still has a role to play in the government.
I also want to thank Peter Dutton for the service he has provided. I actually recommended him for the job as minister for immigration and border protection, after I left it some years ago, and he has served faithfully in that role and home affairs, and I look forward, if he so chooses, for him to be playing a role in the government which I intend to lead.I also want to thank Peter Dutton for the service he has provided. I actually recommended him for the job as minister for immigration and border protection, after I left it some years ago, and he has served faithfully in that role and home affairs, and I look forward, if he so chooses, for him to be playing a role in the government which I intend to lead.
Morrison’s immediate policy priority? The drought. He says he will review the government’s drought response immediately.Morrison’s immediate policy priority? The drought. He says he will review the government’s drought response immediately.
Morrison raises the old Howard mantra of “we will decide who comes to this country”. He talks of terrorism and security.Morrison raises the old Howard mantra of “we will decide who comes to this country”. He talks of terrorism and security.
Morrison also speaks of the importance of unity and strong leadership:Morrison also speaks of the importance of unity and strong leadership:
Now, our job, particularly for Josh and I am as we take forward this mantle of leadership as a new generation, is to ensure that we not only bring our party back together, which has been bruised and battered this week, but that will enable us to ensure we bring the parliament back together, that we can continue to work to ensure that our country stays close togetherNow, our job, particularly for Josh and I am as we take forward this mantle of leadership as a new generation, is to ensure that we not only bring our party back together, which has been bruised and battered this week, but that will enable us to ensure we bring the parliament back together, that we can continue to work to ensure that our country stays close together
Morrison is speaking about Liberal-National values. He starts with the importance of a “fair go” and individual choice. Then he says:Morrison is speaking about Liberal-National values. He starts with the importance of a “fair go” and individual choice. Then he says:
We believe that the best form of welfare is a job. That is what releases people out of poverty.We believe that the best form of welfare is a job. That is what releases people out of poverty.
He says:He says:
But everyone has to play by the rules in this country. Everyone. Whether you are a big business, setting electricity prices, or loaning money, or you are just someone parking in the street. We’ve all got to live by the rules of this country, the law of our land. These are values we uphold. And it’s important that we do that right across our areas of policyBut everyone has to play by the rules in this country. Everyone. Whether you are a big business, setting electricity prices, or loaning money, or you are just someone parking in the street. We’ve all got to live by the rules of this country, the law of our land. These are values we uphold. And it’s important that we do that right across our areas of policy
The new prime minister begins with a direct message to the Australian people. He’s trying to address the deep, deep frustration voters hold over this kind of internal mess.The new prime minister begins with a direct message to the Australian people. He’s trying to address the deep, deep frustration voters hold over this kind of internal mess.
There has been a lot of talk this week about whose side people are on in this building. And what Josh and I are here to tell you, as the new generation of Liberal leadership, is that we are on your side. That’s what matters. We are on your side.There has been a lot of talk this week about whose side people are on in this building. And what Josh and I are here to tell you, as the new generation of Liberal leadership, is that we are on your side. That’s what matters. We are on your side.
We mentioned earlier that Scott Morrison, our incoming PM, was expected to speak at 3pm. There’s been a slight delay. The new time is 4.15pm. So stick with us.We mentioned earlier that Scott Morrison, our incoming PM, was expected to speak at 3pm. There’s been a slight delay. The new time is 4.15pm. So stick with us.
We’re expecting to hear how Morrison will unite the party, lead a new policy agenda, and deal with a buoyant Labor opposition.We’re expecting to hear how Morrison will unite the party, lead a new policy agenda, and deal with a buoyant Labor opposition.
Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, gives us her sharp-eyed insight into what has truly been a dramatic day in Australian politics. One of the most dramatic, I’ll wager. Certainly the most dramatic in my time in the press gallery, which amounts to roughly four and a half days.
Please, do read this excellent piece from Murphy:
The country has dodged a bullet. I’d like to say that more diplomatically, but I have no energy to say it more diplomatically, and I strongly suspect voters don’t need diplomacy from me right now.
What’s needed is clarity.
So let’s have that.
There have been big stakes in this leadership ballot. A party of government fractured right in front of us. That political party contemplated its immediate future: would it be government by reason, steady deliberation by the technocrats, or would it be government by crass populism, by feelings, by resentments, by roiling, by the gut, by the vibe?
This same choice has played out in democracies around the world, post global financial crisis. This is the moment history has handed us. How we respond to it will determine our future.
David Rowe, the Australian Financial Review’s cartoonist, has turned this around with remarkable speed.
I mean, I’m sitting here with my head still spinning, and he’s managed a masterpiece. The detail is exquisite.
Here is @roweafr's take on today's #libspill. For all the news and latest developments, follow live here: https://t.co/0ixj0KZOA0 #auspol pic.twitter.com/T1GIciMvkY
Catholic schools are hoping the prime minister elect, Scott Morrison, can help fix up the government’s “flawed school funding policies”. They’re on the front foot. The Catholic education commission of Victoria executive director, Stephen Elder, said:
The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria acknowledges the election of Scott Morrison as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister.
For the past 15 months Catholic school families have demonstrated their deep concern at flawed school funding policies, as seen at the Batman and Longman by-elections.
We look forward to a new approach from government and have issued a number of papers over the past 18 months that will be able to assist Mr Morrison and his education minister.
The CECV looks forward to working with Mr Morrison to replace school SES scores with a better measure of school needs – as recommended by the National School Resourcing Board – as a matter of priority and a recognition of the importance of choice in education for Catholic school parents.
The former Labor prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has offered some helpful advice to his rivals. Do what I did.
I’m sure they’ll be chuffed to hear from Rudd, at this particular juncture.
For the nation’s good, I’d urge Liberal Party to adopt a rule change to prevent rolling political chaos. Our 2013 rule change (requiring 50% vote of MPs, 50% of ALL party members) means you can’t just launch a coup at the drop of a hat. It’s helped give Labor 5 years of stability
But that, as you’d expect, is where the cross-party love ends.
Labor are straight out on the attack against Scott Morrison. They’ve emailed members to help build a war chest after his ascent.
It starts:
Dear xxxx
‘It’s official: Today the architect of giving the big banks a $17 billion tax handout is set to become the Prime Minister.
Scott Morrison.
This is the same Scott Morrison who:
Locked in massive cuts to hospitals;
Will keep fighting to give $17 billion to the big banks;
Cut $17 billion from schools;
Cut penalty rates;
Raised the pension age to 70;
Cut the Aged Pension; and
Voted 26 times against the banking royal commission.
There you go. Gives you a fairly good idea of Labor’s attack lines in the coming weeks.
You’ll notice that there’s no mention of Operation Sovereign Borders, the Morrison-led mission to “stop the boats”.
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has just released a statement farewelling Malcolm Turnbull. Shorten speaks highly of Turnbull, praising him as a “great intellect” and someone of great “eloquence”. Shorten wishes him well in life after politics, and says he hopes this allows him to spend more time with his wife, Lucy, and family.
Here’s the statement in full:
Politics can be a brutal business.
For Malcolm, for Lucy, for their family and for his personal staff, who are as loyal and as close as family, this is a very hard day indeed.
In 2016, Malcolm and I led our two parties in the longest election campaign in fifty years and in some respects, I suppose we have been engaged in that same contest in the two years since.
But for all our verbal conflict, for all the fierce words we’ve exchanged, I hope Malcolm knows that I have always respected him as a formidable opponent, as an advocate of great intellect and eloquence and as someone who came to parliament, relatively late in life, because he was driven by the desire to serve.
Australian politics will always need people like that, on all sides.
The final observation I would make may seem a small thing but I believe it says a great deal.
On many occasions, Malcolm and I would speak at the same events. I don’t think any Australian Prime Minister has used the word ‘love’ more frequently in his public remarks.
Anyone who listened to him speak could always hear his deep and profound love for his wife Lucy, for their children and grandchildren. But also his abiding love for our country.
I hope the future brings Malcolm plenty of relaxing paddles in the kayak, plenty of stories to read and re-read to the grandchildren - and many long and happy days with his loved ones.
Chloe and I wish him, Lucy and their family well.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate Jack, Malcolm Turnbull’s grandson? If only he’d stood in the spill. Surely the conservatives wouldn’t try an insurgency against a kid that cute.
Outgoing PM Malcolm Turnbull and his family this afternoon @knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/7jmNu1vxfp pic.twitter.com/LLwrwBurhs
Just back to that petition, some very interesting notes were made by Liberal MPs clearly gutted by the entire process. Some made it clear they were signing only to resolve the mess, or that they supported the office of the prime minister.
Warren Entsch wrote “for Brendan Nelson”. He told Guardian Australia this morning:
This cancer started when Brendan Nelson got trashed, and it’s never been the bloody same since. Rolling leaders has become a culture. We’ve got to clean it. We have to. It’s about time for a bit of loyalty, a bit of respect.
when u stan ur queen pic.twitter.com/TcnNhPrxmE
More Liberal MPs are leaving parliament and speaking freely to reporters on their way out. Enjoy it while it lasts. We’ll be back to scripted lines in no time.
Trent Zimmerman says the leadership tensions must stop.
The Australian people will be rightly very unforgiving unless we move on, and I’m confident that we will.
Should Abbott and other agitators leave parliament?
I wouldn’t like to see any more byelections but I do think that sometimes former prime ministers should take the model that John Howard sensibly has, and that’s to show great discretion about when you get involved in contemporary issues.
Fairfax and the ABC have the list of names of the 43 MPs who signed the crucial petition calling for the party room meeting.
These are the Liberal MPs who forced a spill motion, ending Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministership. @politicsabc https://t.co/qHZEJD4rqw pic.twitter.com/H8Cb68sbDM
EXCLUSIVE: Here’s ‘the list’ of MPs who demanded the spill. More detail here: https://t.co/nF9MY5Aw7e #auspol #libspill pic.twitter.com/uxrSrbF9dY