‘Turnbull has to go’: Alan Jones calls for PM’s head on Twitter after Labor’s Super Saturday sweep

Talkback radio host Alan Jones has launched an extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on social media following the federal government’s disastrous results in the Super Saturday by-elections.

Labor retained four of the five federal seats up for grabs in polls that were predicted to threaten federal opposition leader Bill Shorten’s leadership.

Instead, it’s Mr Turnbull who now faces the backlash and apprehension ahead of next year’s federal election.

Jones added fuel to the fire by adding his two cents worth on Sunday.

Alan Jones (pictured) slammed the prime minister over the Super Saturday by-election results

Many commenters agreed with Jones' attack (tweet pictured) on Malcolm Turnbull

Many commenters agreed with Jones’ attack (tweet pictured) on Malcolm Turnbull

‘In politics, as in life, if you do today what you did yesterday, you get yesterday’s results. The Liberals surely can’t stomach again what happened on Saturday. Turnbull has to go,’ the controversial 2GB breakfast host tweeted.

His Twitter post sparked 349 comments, 300 retweets and 860 likes within the first four hours.

Many commenters agreed with Jones’ attack on the prime minister.

‘Who will replace him Alan? Abbott is as popular as a f*rt in an elevator. Darth Dutton is too damaged to be PM and the IPA will never allow WA moderate Julie Bishop to become PM. Can’t be ScoMo either. None of them want to repeat(again) the ALP leadership saga,’ one man tweeted.

Talkback radio host Alan Jones (pictured) sparked controversy on Sunday

Talkback radio host Alan Jones (pictured) sparked controversy on Sunday

‘The bookies have Bishop the favourite to replica Turnbull. Now that is a reveal of the lack of talent in the Liberals. There is not one in the current cabinet deserving of a further three years in government.’

Others called on Jones to propose alternative leaders.

‘You shouldn’t call for the current PM’s defenestration without proposing an alternative leader. Your loyal listeners need to know who has your support,’ journalist Quentin Dempster tweeted.

Mr Shorten’s success has almost certainly redoubled the strength of his position within the party. 

 'The Liberals surely can¿t stomach again what happened on Saturday. Turnbull (pictured) has to go,' the controversial 2GB breakfast host tweeted

 ‘The Liberals surely can’t stomach again what happened on Saturday. Turnbull (pictured) has to go,’ the controversial 2GB breakfast host tweeted

Going into the by-elections, Mr Shorten’s position as Labor leader was in a precarious position.

Overall poll numbers put him in an election-winning position going into the next federal ballot but senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese appeared positioned to take advantage of any chaos that resulted from any by-election losses.

In a speech to delirious supporters on Saturday night,  Mr Shorten punched the air and said the results amounted to ‘a great night for the Labor Party’.

But the Prime Minister disagreed, telling a Sydney press conference on Sunday that ‘No one should be punching the air in the Labor Party.’

The polls wrongly predicted that the by-elections would threaten federal opposition leader Bill Shorten's (pictured) leadership

The polls wrongly predicted that the by-elections would threaten federal opposition leader Bill Shorten’s (pictured) leadership

He poked fun at Mr Shorten’s by-election celebrations, mocking the Labor leader for ‘punching the air as though he has won the World Cup’.

‘There is not a lot to celebrate for the Labor Party. There’s not a lot to crow about, Mr Turnbull said.

‘The reality is that the Labor Party has secured an average or conventional swing in a by-election to it in Longman and has not secured any swing at all in Braddon.

‘At this stage it looks like it will be a line-ball result, so there is not a lot to celebrate for the Labor Party.

‘Unfortunately politics is often reported like sport nowadays, and not a lot of attention is being given to the truth or otherwise of what politicians are saying.

‘The important thing is that now these citizenship issues have been dealt with, and we will continue to get on with the delivering the strong economic growth, the record jobs growth, more investment, more growth, more jobs, higher wages. That’s our commitment and that’s what we’ll continue to do.’    

What were the Super Saturday by-elections?  

The by-election is established to fill offices that have become vacant between the general election period. 

Four lectorates across Australia were forced to hold by-elections as a result of the dual citizenship scandal of early 2018, which saw multiple resignations across the board.

These polls in particular were significant in establishing and further understanding government and opposition strongholds, and to prepare for the coming federal election. 

Braddon: Tasmania

Labor candidate Justine Keay retained her position after the election, securing a close win over Liberal Brett Whiteley.

Longman: Queensland

Labor candidate Susan Lamb won the seat of Longman, Queensland, by a landslide.

Fremantle: Western Australia

Labor candidate Josh Wilson comfortably won the seat of Fremantle. The Liberal Party did not field a candidate.

Perth: Western Australia

Labor candidate Patrick Gorman won his seat in Perth. The Liberal Party did not field a candidate.

Mayo: South Australia 

Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie won convincingly against Liberal opponent Georgina Downer.



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