Liberal leadership: Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott’s bitter feud

Tony Abbott has been slammed as a ‘wrecker’ – a toxic influence on the political landscape hell-bent on exacting revenge after his own ousting at the hands of Malcolm Turnbull.

The bitter Turnbull-Abbott feud, dating back to 2009, is said to be at the heart of the Liberal Party’s disastrous implosion, in a week the deposed prime minister described as ‘a form of madness’.  

‘Everyone blames Tony and I understand that,’ Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett told ABC’s Four Corners on Monday night.

‘But it goes back to when Tony defeated Malcolm Turnbull in Opposition by one vote. That laid the seeds to this continuing hostility between them both. So they’re both responsible.’

 

Tony Abbott has been slammed as a ‘wrecker’ – a toxic influence on the political landscape hell-bent on exacting revenge after his own ousting at the hands of Malcolm Turnbull

The bitter Turnbull-Abbott feud dates back to 2009. The pair are pictured at Parliament House in 2015

The bitter Turnbull-Abbott feud dates back to 2009. The pair are pictured at Parliament House in 2015

Abbott – and climate change – was to be the undoing of Turnbull the first time around. Kevin Andrews moved a spill on November 26, 2009 and lost. The next day, Abbott challenged but then declared he would back Joe Hockey. 

But when Hockey refused to oppose a carbon emissions trading scheme, Abbott stood at the December 1 ballot and defeated Turnbull by a single vote. 

Abbott later led the coalition to a storming victory over Kevin Rudd’s Labor in 2013. He called a spill in February 2015, but it wasn’t until September that Turnbull finally moved after Abbott had lost 32 Newspolls in a row. 

Turnbull was Prime Minister – and Abbott and his supporters never forgave him.

Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said  Abbott had been 'very active in maintaining a degree of agitation about his position'

Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said Abbott had been ‘very active in maintaining a degree of agitation about his position’

Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer compared the current Liberal fiasco with the Labor leadership turmoil through the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd era, and the ‘years of bitterness that follows’. 

‘In the case of the Liberal Party, the same sort of thing has happened,’ he told the program. 

‘There is – amongst those who are losers in these situations – perhaps one could say inevitably, a high degree of bitterness and that can in turn lead to acts of attempted revenge.’

Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said Abbott, after his 2015 ousting, had been ‘very active in maintaining a degree of agitation about his position’.

‘And I think that that has continued to accumulate. For Tony, this is unfinished business and he’s got his agenda,’ he said. 

'Everyone blames Tony and I understand that,' Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said

‘Everyone blames Tony and I understand that,’ Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said

When Turnbull became Prime Minister in 2015, Abbott and his supporters never forgave him

When Turnbull became Prime Minister in 2015, Abbott and his supporters never forgave him

Former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley said Abbott exacted his final revenge by joining forces with the party’s hard-right to make it impossible for Turnbull to continue as prime minister.  

‘I think what Tony has done is really regrettable, lamentable. He has destabilised, he has really done everything he could to make things as difficult as possible for Malcolm Turnbull,’ he told the program. 

Abbott – who backed Peter Dutton’s failed bid for the top job – said he was confident Australia was in ‘better shape’ this week than before Scott Morrison took over as prime minister.

‘He [Dutton] was a most reluctant challenger… just as I was back in 2009,’ Abbott said, in reference to his deposing of Turnbull as leader.

Former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley said Abbott exacted his final revenge by joining forces with the party's hard-right

Former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley said Abbott exacted his final revenge by joining forces with the party’s hard-right

Ousted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told his Liberal Party members he will leave federal parliament on Friday

Ousted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told his Liberal Party members he will leave federal parliament on Friday

Abbott said the party was now more likely to win the next election with Scott Morrison at the helm.

That’s despite the latest Newspoll taken just after Friday’s leadership showdown showing the coalition’s primary vote had slipped to 33 per cent, the worst result in a decade.

Abbott also cautioned his Liberal colleagues to refrain from sniping or undermining each other during internal disagreements.

‘May I express my fond hope that in the weeks and months and years to come, political success will be determined again more by character and less by polling,’ he said. 

‘The contest within parties should be conducted with honesty. If we disagree, let us do it openly and honestly.

‘Let us never in the future say one thing to someone’s face and something totally different behind their backs – that has been the poison in our polity.’  

FORMER PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD BRANDS TONY ABBOTT A ‘GIANT WRECKING BALL’

Former Prime Minster Kevin Rudd was scathing in his assessment of Tony Abbott this week

Former Prime Minster Kevin Rudd was scathing in his assessment of Tony Abbott this week

Kevin Rudd has pilloried Tony Abbott as a toxic influence on the national political landscape who doesn’t care a whit about policy.

The extraordinary spray by one former prime minister against another was made in an opinion piece published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday in the wake of last week’s Liberal leadership crisis in Canberra.

Abbott's 'unique negativity, toxicity and hatred' could not be underestimated, the ex-Labor leader wrote

Abbott’s ‘unique negativity, toxicity and hatred’ could not be underestimated, the ex-Labor leader wrote

‘Abbott has never cared about policy. He has only cared about politics and winning at any cost. I cannot remember a single positive policy initiative that Abbott has championed and then implemented,’ Rudd said.

‘The entire energies of this giant wrecking ball of Australian policies has been focused on destroying his opponents within the Labor party and the Liberal party’.

Abbott’s ‘unique negativity, toxicity and hatred’ could not be underestimated, the ex-Labor leader continued.

Both Rudd and Abbott were ousted as prime minister by their parties before they had finished their first terms. Rudd was ejected by Julia Gillard and Abbott by Malcolm Turnbull.

Abbott was last week accused of being a ‘wrecker’ by fellow Liberal MPs for laying the groundwork for the sudden and successful move by the party’s conservative wing against Turnbull.

Abbott had backed fellow conservative Peter Dutton who lost his chance at the top job when he was overtaken by Scott Morrison, who was sworn in as prime minister on Friday.

Kevin Rudd and then-Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott shake hands during the second Sky News People's Forum in 2013 in Sydney

Kevin Rudd and then-Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott shake hands during the second Sky News People’s Forum in 2013 in Sydney

Turnbull confirmed on Monday night he will leave federal parliament by the end of the week, triggering a by-election in his Sydney seat of Wentworth.

He thanked his supporters at the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club in Bellevue Hill, and – in what may have been one final swipe at his rival – said parliament was no place for former prime ministers. 

‘A former prime minister is best out of it than in it, and recent events probably undermined the value of that observation, so accordingly on Friday I will resign from the House of Representatives,’ he said, according to The Daily Telegraph. 

Turnbull didn’t directly address Abbott and the other rebel Liberal MPs who ended his leadership, but described the party’s week of turmoil as ‘appalling’.  

Turnbull appeared to take one final swipe at Tony Abbott - and said parliament was no place for former prime ministers

Turnbull appeared to take one final swipe at Tony Abbott – and said parliament was no place for former prime ministers

Liberal backbencher Tony Abbott has endorsed his sister Christine Forster (centre) for Malcolm Turnbull's seat

Liberal backbencher Tony Abbott has endorsed his sister Christine Forster (centre) for Malcolm Turnbull’s seat

‘I won’t dwell on the events of last week. They have been described – including by me – as a form of madness – I can’t really elaborate much more than that,’ he said.

‘My prime ministership has come to an end, the circumstances have appalled most Australians, but again I won’t labour the point I think you’re very familiar with what happened.’

Moves are already underway to fill the Liberal safe seat, which Turnbull has held for 14 years. A by-election will be held on October 6. 

Abbott has endorsed his sister for the plum seat, just days after he helped orchestrate Turnbull’s demise.

Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy arrive at the State Funeral for Sir Laurence Street in July

Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy arrive at the State Funeral for Sir Laurence Street in July

Australia's outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walks back with his granddaughter after a press conference in Canberra on Friday

Australia’s outgoing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walks back with his granddaughter after a press conference in Canberra on Friday

Christine Forster confirmed on Monday she is intending to run for Liberal pre-selection.

Abbott has backed his sister, saying he believes she would be a ‘wonderful competitor’ in the looming by-election.

‘If she does put her hand up for Wentworth and if she is successful, I know she will be a wonderful, wonderful competitor in any by-election and she’d be a great local member if she were elected,’ Mr Abbott said.

Ms Forster, a City of Sydney councillor, said she had a strong record of championing Liberal Party values at a local government level.

‘I think as someone with local credentials and a strong track record of strong liberalism, I feel they are the types of candidates we want in any seat,’ she told AAP. 

PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON’S NEW CABINET TO BE SWORN IN

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's new cabinet will be sworn in on Tuesday 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s new cabinet will be sworn in on Tuesday 

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison will see his new cabinet sworn in on Tuesday, including some of the Liberal MPs who voted against him in last week’s leadership spill.

The coalition government is recovering from a horror poll showing voters have fled the Liberals and Nationals after Malcolm Turnbull was axed.

The latest Newspoll taken after Friday’s leadership showdown shows the coalition’s primary vote has slipped to 33 per cent, the worst result in a decade.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor holds a commanding 56 per cent to the government’s 44 per cent.

Mr Morrison will oversee the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has already been sworn in, but some of his backers will officially get their new jobs on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured last week) has already been sworn in

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured last week) has already been sworn in

Key Dutton supporter Steven Ciobo will become the new Defence Industry Minister, while Angus Taylor gets the energy portfolio.

Mr Dutton said he had no regrets about his role in the spill, which he failed to win after forcing Mr Turnbull into quitting as prime minister.

The new ministry includes some of those behind the toppling of Mr Turnbull as the Liberal Party tries to heal deep divisions before the next federal election, due by May.

‘There’s both new faces and the stability and continuity from the Turnbull government,’ Treasurer Mr Frydenberg said on Monday.

Steven Ciobo (pictured) will become the new Defence Industry Minister

Steven Ciobo (pictured) will become the new Defence Industry Minister

‘(Mr Dutton’s) performed extremely well in that important role and will continue to do so.’

New Energy Minister Angus Taylor will work on a revised plan to get power prices down and maintain reliable electricity.

‘He’ll bring a fresh set of eyes to a fresh set of challenges,’ Frydenberg said.

WA’s Melissa Price, who used to work for a mining company, comes into the cabinet to oversee environment policy.

The Greens are livid with the ‘anti-environment’ cabinet appointments, describing Ms Price as a ‘climate sceptic, pro-mining’ environment minister.

Ex-Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was made special envoy for drought assistance and drought recovery, while former prime minister Tony Abbott has been offered a similar role within indigenous affairs.

New Energy Minister Angus Taylor will work on a revised plan to get power prices down and maintain reliable electricity

New Energy Minister Angus Taylor will work on a revised plan to get power prices down and maintain reliable electricity

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