The leadership of the Liberal Party will be decided today in Canberra. Punch editors will be posting news, commentary, pics and video as they come to hand here throughout the day. Times are AEDT. Refresh this page for updates.
5.29pm: David Speers of Sky News shares his thoughts in a blog post titled “The Abbott experiment”.
Joe Hockey isn’t rushing to the backbench so fast. He’s talking to Tony Abbott about whether he will stay as Shadow Treasurer. If he does, it will be difficult to show any unity on emissions trading.
In many ways this result may be a blessing in disguise for Joe Hockey. He’s still in the leadership mix, should Tony Abbott implode.
More here.
5.12pm: Bob Hawke, always worth quoting. Here’s what he said today, from AAP:
“I couldn’t have written a better script myself if I sat down and thought about it for, you know, months,” Mr Hawke told reporters.
“Seriously, I don’t want to gloat in the misfortunes of the opposition `cause I think it’s important in a democracy to have a reasonable and functioning opposition.
“They were making such a bloody mess of it I hope genuinely, to some extent, they get their act together.”
Asked what kind of leader Mr Abbott would make, Mr Hawke replied in one word: “temporary”.
4.39pm: More international coverage from the Wall Street Journal (Abbott could push Australia to the right) and Reuters (‘Mad monk’ Australia opposition head to fight CO2 laws).
4.38pm: Barnaby Joyce on Tony Abbott: “We’re looking at a person of immense capabilities here and now it’s a case of keeping the show together and give the Australian people a clear alternative to (Prime Minister Kevin) Rudd’s massive new tax.”
4.30 pm: Tony Abbot has told Channel 9 that he can’t guarantee that every senator “will do the right thing” when asked whether senators will cross the floor.
4.27pm: Julie Bishop says on Sky News she voted for Malcolm Turnbull in both leadership votes today.
4.19pm: What the nation is tweeting about this afternoon. From trendsmap.com
2.59pm: International reporting of the Liberal leadership change… Bloomberg reports:
Abbott, a former amateur boxer who trained as a priest, defeated ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive Malcolm Turnbull by 42 votes to 41 in a leadership ballot, party officials said in Canberra today. The contest capped a week of infighting after Turnbull’s support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd emissions- trading plan split the opposition coalition.
And uses this quote:
“The public are absolutely appalled at the way in which the Liberals have conducted themselves,” said Nick Economou, a politics professor at Monash University in Melbourne. “They now have a leader who really polarizes the community. I cannot see how the coalition will win the next federal election.”
More from Bloomberg here.
Also reports from the BBC and the Wall Street Journal and AFP.
2.50pm: The Greens say they expect a vote on the ETS by the end of today in the Senate. “I don’t expect the government is going to filibuster, so I would think we’re heading for some determination later today,” Bob Brown told reporters in Canberra.
2pm: Abbott confirms end to flirting with Julia Gillard
1.54pm: ABC election analyst Anthony Green explains the possible election scenarios here.
1.18pm: New commentary now on The Punch ... David Penberthy on Tony Abbott, Tory Maguire on Julie Bishop, the Stepford deputy, Mark Kenny on implications for Labor, and Kevin Andrews on the role of the opposition.
Plus - we have a present for Tony Abbott: A pair of boardshorts. Worth 3 points in the polls, surely.
12.49pm: Tim Blair writes: “... mere seconds into his leadership, Abbott was already a more effective leader than was Turnbull. Excellent.”
And Andrew Bolt:
It was Abbott’s stroke of genius to have asked the party room immediately after his win to have a secret ballot on whether or not to pass Rudd’s tax. It’s given him a tremendous mandate, and settled those media claims that the party was keen on the wretched tax on everything.
More here.
12.44pm: Pictures from this morning’s events Canberra…
12.27pm: Melbourne’s Herald Sun runs with Abbott’s assertion he’s ready to fight an election over the ETS.
12.20pm: A Coalition source says at least four senators will definitely cross floor on the ETS. “It is still going to be close,” the source said. - Penbo.
12.11pm: Malcolm Farr writes at The Daily Telegraph:
Kevin Rudd now has an opponent who will not squib from heading off in his own direction and forcing the Government to react.
The Government will depict this Liberal decision as a mad dash for the past by the party and a return to discredited policies which cost the Coalition the 2007 election.
More here.
12.06pm: Hockey’s future: He said he will be meeting with Abbott to discuss if he will serve as shadow treasurer. Indicates he will. “I’m not a quitter” he said.
12.05pm: Tony Abbott has just said to the House of Reps - “I have, in the past, been accused of flirting with the Deputy Prime Minister. That must immediately cease.”
11.53am: Asked if he is using “coded language” to signal to Liberal Party senators to cross the floor and vote against the ETS, Hockey replies: “My views are clear.”
11.46am: Joe Hockey: “I am not a climate change sceptic. I am someone who believes the Earth deserves the benefit of the doubt.” Says he sought to honour the deal the government had put on the table.
“Malcolm remains a good mate,” he says of Turnbull.
Acknowledges that offering the opportunity to have a free vote some may describe as “weak”... “Well, my view is every individual should have the courage of their convictions”. Said “given the depth of feeling within the party, I could not compromise my principles”.
Abbott has his “full support” and he will be talking to him about his future role in the party.
And here’s a picture:
11.38am: Joe Hockey due to speak at 11.45am. At The Australian, blogger Jack the Insider is holding a live blog now to discuss Abbott’s leadership .
11.36am: Samantha Maiden at The Australian has a wrap-up of Abbott’s press conference here.
11.14pm: Interested observers… Liberal MPs including Sophie Mirabella, seated, Pat Farmer and Wilson Tuckey, as well as party federal director Brian Loughnane, watching Tony Abbott’s first press conference as Liberal leader.
11.12am: Asked about how his record will affect him as leader, Abbott says: “I accept that at times I have stuffed up….but when you become leader you make a new start.”
11.07am: And here’s a picture:
11.07am: Tony Abbott sounding really convincing as he lays out the grounds on which he will fight the next election. You can say many things about Abbott, but at least you know where he stands - Tors.
11.04am: Abbott confirms support for the government’s emissions reduction targets. Commits to “strong and effective” policy on climate change.
11.00am: Abbott fires up in his first press conference as leader. Says he is “not frightened” of an election on the ETS, which he describes as a “great big tax to create a great big slush fund” that would provide politicised handouts from the bureaucracy.
He confirms if the Opposition cannot get the support of the cross-benches to defer the ETS legislation they will oppose it in the Senate.
10.57am: The ETS deserves “the most rigorous scrutiny” by the Parliament, says Abbott.
10.56am: Abbott appears. “Obviously there are some wounds that do need to be healed. I have said to my colleagues that I will do my best to be a consultative and collegial leader. Political parties don’t work when people just announce what they do and expect everybody to follow.”
“I particularly want to pay tribute to Malcolm Turnbull… I really meant it when I said in recent days that my respect and admiration for Malcolm has grown enormously in recent months.”
10.52am: ABC’s Washington correspondent Lisa Millar reports on Twitter Kevin Rudd has had trouble with his plane. PM Rudd could be here in Washington for another night! His plane took off, then landed. Mechanical fault. No other details.
10.49am: Tony Abbott is going to have to be Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros Ghali and the Dalai Lama rolled into one to unite the Liberal Party after the past week - Penbo.
10.45am: Some are declaring the ETS dead. The Sydney Morning Herald reports:
The motion proposed that the [ETS] legislation should be delayed for three months, and if this could not be secured, then the legislation should be defeated.
The motion was carried by 54 votes to 29, guaranteeing the death of the Rudd Government’s ETS.
However, there remains the possibility that Liberal Senators - Turnbull supporters - could cross the floor and vote with the government on the ETS.
10.35am: The informal vote - somebody wrote “No” on their ballot paper.
10.34am: Tweet from Liberal MP Scott Morrison: will give the planet the benefit of the doubt but not Kevin Rudd.
10.29am: Before he started, Turnbull said: “Just be calm, you’re all very excited.”
10.28am: Turnbull emerging to speak to reporters.
10.27am: Turnbull speaks, congratulates Tony Abbott and wishes him well. He is not going to resign from Parliament and he will consider whether to stay in politics after the next election.
He will not serve in Abbott’s shadow cabinet.
10.12am: The Australian reports: While Mr Abbott has pledged to deliver an anti-ETS policy as a condition of his leadership, up to eight Liberal MPs are threatening to cross the floor and vote with Labor. More here.
10.10am: Kevin Andrews on Sky says Abbott has indicated he wants Hockey to continue as shadow treasurer and Pyne to continue as manager of opposition business.
10.07am: Piers Akerman at The Daily Telegraph says Tony Abbott now has the toughest job in town.
10.05am: David Speers on Sky News reports there was a secret ballot on the ETS after Abbott was elected. The outcome, according to a source, is if the party cannot defer the emissions trading scheme this week, it will be voted down in the Senate.
10am: News wrap live now on news.com.au.
10.54am: Waiting for Tony Abbott’s press conference.
9.55am: So Tony Abbott is leader of the Liberal Party. The emissions trading legislation may not pass the Senate this year.
9.52am: First ballot was Abbott 35 Turnbull 26 Hockey 23. Went to a run-off between Turnbull and Abbott and the vote was 42-41.
9.51am: Tony Abbott has won the leadership of the Liberal Party by one vote.
48-34 in favour of a spill.
Hockey was eliminated in the first ballot.
42-41 was the result for Abbott.
9.49am: Alex Somlyay coming out. Result pending.
9.47am: No TV? Live streaming of the spill coverage here.
9.43am: At this stage we can assume the leadership spill has been successful and the MPs are now deciding on the next leader of the Liberal Party.
9.29am: Grahame Morris analysis on Sky: If Turnbull gets up, he will declare the party will vote for the ETS and a bunch of people will say “No, we’re not.” If Abbott gets up, he will declare a vote against an ETS and a bunch of people will say “No, we’re not.” Hockey’s offer of a conscience vote seems to be the only way to avoid that.
9.22am: Malcolm Farr at The Daily Telegraph:
...the Liberals at their party room have a clear choice on policy - back either Mr Turnbull or Mr Hockey and get the ETS passed or support Mr Abbott to block the legislation as it now stands.
More here.
9.19am: Looks as if Dutton will almost certainly be the deputy if either Hockey or Abbott win.
9.18am: Greg Combet argues we’ve just had the hottest November on record in Sydney so the Liberals should pass the emissions trading bill.
9.16am: Liberal MPs are reportedly being frisked at the door of the meeting for mobile phones. “Nasty blow for text traffic,” says Annabel Crabb.
9.07am: Barnaby Joyce is on Sky - his prediction, Hockey will win, there will be a conscience vote in the Senate this week, the ETS will pass, and the National Party will get more support from the electorate.
9.04am: Partyroom meeting getting underway. Penbo says: If there are speeches at this #spill as is being suggested meeting will go longer than the Brisbane test did.
8.53am: A Liberal source in the Hockey camp says the partyroom vote is tight with a number of MPs - up to 10 - still in the “not sure” column.
The source says the offer from Hockey is in accord with is principles and is the best he can make in a situation where the two camps are never ever going to agree. - Colgo.
8.47am: Liberal MP Michael Johnson says he thinks Tony Abbott will be leader by the end of the day. “My hunch is that it will be Tony Abbott ... but all three figures are substantial figures, they all have the affection and respect of their party,” he said on Channel 7.
8.44am: Vic Liberal Bruce Bilson just said “Opposition 3.0 is what we need to move to” - he actually said it twice.
8.27am: Turnbull on Sky News: “I always fight a good fight but I will win today.”
“We must have a clear and consistent and principled position on climate change action.”
Asked if he can work with the likes of Nick Minchin, he says: “Everyone knows that I don’t bear grudges, I’m not a hater.”
Channelling John Howard, he says: “My commitment to the Liberal Party is that the things that unite us are more important than the things that divide us.”
“We should move on, united, effective, holding the Rudd Government to account.”
Asked to confirm if he will contest the leadership if there is a spill, Turnbull says: “I am standing today.”
8.25am: A minor point but Twitter has crashed, setting off panic among tweeting journalists.
8.25am: Abbott supporter Bronnie Bishop says on Sky that she doesn’t know if Joe Hockey will even run. “I don’t know who else might put up their hand, and it’s getting close to 9 o’clock.”
8.22am: More from Turnbull who, contrary to what most observers say, believes he still has the numbers to win today:
“The numbers have all been published… a number of people didn’t like the decision of the majority on the Tuesday and so called for a spill against my leadership ... and that spill was defeated by 48 to 35.
“The party room has dealt with this twice and it has supported me and we are now going to deal with it a third time today.”
8.17am: David Koch doing Sunrise outside Parliament in Canberra
8.12am: Senator Judith Troeth has indicated that should Joe Hockey be elected leader she and eight of her upper house colleagues would use a free vote to pass the ETS legislation. But it remains unclear when the vote would occur if Hockey wins.
8.02am: Turnbull has spoken to Channel 7 and says he believes he will hold his position because he has a “clear consistent position on tackling action on climate change”.
8am: Declared for Turnbull - there are some - Judith Troeth, Russell Broadbent, Gary Humphries and George Brandis.
7.57am: Meanwhile, on the other side of the world (literally and figuratively)...
7.42am: The government has pencilled in time in the House of Reps today to consider any Senate amendments to the ETS legislation in anticipation of an outcome of the Liberal Party meeting that could allow the CPRS to pass in the upper house. The Senate sits from 10am and the House of Reps from 11am.
7.39am: David Penberthy has written today on The Punch about the choice facing Joe Hockey, saying he’s “about to make the biggest decision of his life”. Excerpt:
[Last week] I chatted briefly to Hockey about the leadership and asked him whether he would run against Turnbull.
He said he would not.
“I am not going to start my leadership career by selling my soul,” Hockey said.
It was a reference to the fact that, as someone who believes in climate change, this Liberal Party moderate was simply not prepared to reverse or soften his position on the ETS to win the support of party conservatives and seize the leadership.
Read on here.
7.27am: Latest results of a leadership poll on The Daily Telegraph… not in accord with the major Newspoll and Nielsen findings yesterday which showed Hockey as preferred leader by three points over Malcolm Turnbull. See the poll and cast your vote here.
7.06am: Hockey’s office has just reconfirmed that he will not vote to spill the leadership this morning. But “in the event that it succeeds, he will be a candidate offering his colleagues a free vote on the ETS.”
6.49am: Kevin Rudd, meanwhile, is in Washington DC and has had his praises sung by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. She described the PM as one of the most “creative thinkers” on global issues. More here.
6.43am: Liberal senator Gary Humphries has said he’ll be supporting Malcolm Turnbull today. “He is a person who has shown the guts and determination to drive a difficult policy through the party and to the electorate,” he told ABC radio.
6.30am: Where we’re up to… When MPs meet at 9am today the Liberal leadership is expected to be declared vacant in a partyroom vote. Then it’s expected to be a three-way battle between Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey, and Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership. Hockey has flagged a conscience vote on the emissions trading scheme which would probably allow the bill to pass. This has proved unacceptable to the right of the party, prompting Abbott to declare he will run for the leadership.
Abbott had previously said he would not stand if Hockey ran but withdrew that offer last night. The Daily Telegraph in Sydney, home town of all three leadership contenders, says on its front page today: “Abbott bombshell turns Libs leadership into farce”. Turnbull supporter Ian Macfarlane said last night the situation was “bordering on being out of control”.
Summaries from the morning papers at The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
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