Australian PM Abbott survives leadership challenge, asks for ‘unity’

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday survived a confidence vote on his leadership after just 17 months in power and urged an end to the disunity that has seen the government’s popularity plummet. Abbott has been fighting for his job after poor poll ratings and a series of policy backflips spurred some MPs from his conservative Liberal Party to openly attack him, calling for a leadership “spill” last week. The motion aimed to declare vacant the positions of party leader and deputy leader, occupied by Abbott and Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop. The motion aimed to declare vacant the positions of party leader and deputy leader, occupied by Abbott and Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop. If it had succeeded, the party room, or Liberal Party members of both houses of parliament, could vote for new candidates.

The Liberal Party has met, we have had a ballot, it was properly conducted. The result is very clear. No 61. Yes 39.

Chief Whip Philip Ruddock

57-year-old Tony Abbott survived despite waking to a dire Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet, and the vote outcome is unlikely to end speculation about his future. The poll showed the ruling Liberal-National coalition trails the Labor opposition on a two-party basis 43 per cent to 57 per cent, while 68 per cent of the 1,178 people interviewed were dissatisfied with Abbott’s performance. His popularity lags far behind Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Bishop, both touted as potential leadership contenders, but who had not formally put their hand up as an alternative prime minister.

Tony Abbott promised he would run a stable and united government. This is his biggest broken promise yet.

Opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten

Asia-Pacific