Turnbull said. Should Malcolm Turnbull become Prime Minister we will seek an urgent meeting with him to chart an appropriate way forward on a reform that he knows is important and urgent.
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And I certainly won’t start now, ‘ he told reporters in Canberra. Senator Di Natale said he’d be seeking an end to subsidies for major corporations and tax breaks for the wealthy and better funding for health and education.
The well-oiled revolving door of Australian politics, which has cycled through five leaders in as many years, is earning the nation a reputation for instability which, according to at least one government lawmaker, is starting to resemble Italy.
Ms Bishop, who has retained her role as deputy, said that Mr Abbott had “done a fantastic job in winning the 2013 election” but that “a number of people felt that he hadn’t met their expectations”. The former Prime Minister, blamed some of the party’s MP and accused the media for rewarding and praising a culture of “treachery”.
And based on the past five years, he shouldn’t expect much sympathy if he strikes trouble.
Mr Shorten said the Liberal’s sacking of Mr Abbott was “staggering” despite their own leadership chaos under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
“Refuse to connive and dishonor by acting as the assassin’s knife”, he said.
But in his last press conference on Tuesday, Mr Abbott promised “no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping”.
Malcolm Turnbull is sticking by a range of Abbott government policies but is yet to spell out just who will be in his cabinet.
It’s now a matter of time to see if he can maintain his new-found popularity.
New PM Mr Turnbull has affirmed his support for the plebiscite, but equality activists have urged him to consider dropping the plans – and instead allowing a simple free vote to go ahead in Parliament.
With 72% of Australians in support of same-sex marriage, it looks likely the proposed reform will pass. However, when, exactly, the vote will be held remains to be decided.
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Both women retained their positions in Turnbull’s Cabinet. For Malcolm and Lucy, though, they represent a step down from their family home: a waterside Sydney mansion with swimming pool and private jetty.
