Canning by-elections: MPs for and against Abbott’s leadership

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will remain the first choice for PM-ship in the Canning by-election, senior Liberals confirmed on Monday.

Speculations were made that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull might challenge Abbott during the Canning by-elections on Saturday. But senior MPs denied them completely. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News that Abbott will still be the prime minister in the by-election. He confirmed that the leadership team of the duo Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop enjoyed “overwhelming support” from the Liberals.

Parliamentary secretary Steve Ciobo told ABC radio that he has no doubt Abbott will lead to the next election. On Sunday night, Nine Network political editor Laurie Oakes reported that Turnbull is being urged by the colleagues to challenge Abbott’s leadership. Some of the ministers agreed to replace Abbott as he has been unsuccessful in winning back public support. Turnbull has reportedly been urged to show support for Abbott by some of the Liberal ministers.

Reports suggested that on Abbott’s request, government whip Andrew Nikolic sent a message to Turnbull, asking him to make his position in the elections clear. Turnbull, according to the reports, refused to respond to it publicly, saying any statement he makes on leadership issues might fuel more speculations. Turnbull might appear to move after the three-week recess just before the Saturday Canning by-elections, giving Abbott a fair chance to call snap double dissolution and claiming that he can sideline Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and win elections heading off any tough competition.

In case Abbott is challenged, it will be the second time since February when he won a party room ballot by 61 votes to 39. However, this time the situation is different as even the senior ministers desire Abbott to quit his leadership. The front and back benchers both have given the PM a fair chance to bring the government on track in six months. The PM presented a fair budget in May, but then it was an expensive boost with temporary results.

Parliament will resume on Monday, and according to the words of one of the Liberals, the Coalition MPs and senators “talk of nothing else” than leadership these days.

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