There is also continuity in the form of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who won the party room vote to retain her additional position as deputy party leader.
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The news comes after the Wentworth federal Liberal MP – whose Sydney electorate includes some of Australia’s most LGBTI-centric suburbs – announced earlier today that he has resigned as Communications Minister and will challenge Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a leadership ballot. “Bit by bit, though, over the last 72 hours, we’ve seen the details of the Faustian pact that Malcolm Turnbull has agreed with the hard right of the Liberal Party and the National Party”, Mr Butler said.
“We will facilitate passage of this legislation so long as there’s a fair dinkum examination of the issues, not just Liberal ministers shouting at the Labor party”, Mr Shorten said. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has been the best of the new generation, and deserves a promotion to a more frontline portfolio.
He gave no indication of whether the government’s negative policies on climate change and gay marriage would change under his leadership.
Abbott’s ousting late Monday further enshrined a recent Australian tradition of swiftly remove ailing prime ministers. “Australia wants this off the table and frankly Malcolm Turnbull wants this off the table”, he continued.
In his first full day in office on Wednesday, Mr Turnbull indicated he wanted to have more women in his cabinet, which is due to be unveiled on the weekend and will be sworn in on Monday.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has a dismal record in appointing women, a leaked document claims.
Abbott emerged badly weakened from a leadership challenge in February, which came about after weeks of infighting, and pledged a new spirit of conciliation.
Independent senator Glenn Lazarus, chair of the Senate committee, which has a majority of Labor members, warned a plebiscite could attract “very nasty and very aggressive advertising campaigns”.
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“We anticipate that he will strongly condemn the racist activities and send a message to Australia that bigotry has no place in our society”, Mr Seyit said.
