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Pyne takes swipe at 'coward' MPs who anonymously leak to media

Monday, 11 Jul 2016 12:45:11 | Dan Conifer

Christopher Pyne says he would love his colleagues to put their names to their statements. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has lashed out at right-wing colleagues who anonymously brief the media, labelling them as "cowards".

Key points:

  • An unnamed Liberal MP told News Corp that right-wing backbenchers could now dictate government policy
  • Pyne says colleagues who leak anonymously "lack character"
  • Says the MP that made the comment should put their name to it

Mr Pyne's criticism came as the ABC's election computer determined the Coalition had retained the central Queensland seat of Flynn, taking it to 75 seats, one short of forming a majority government.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's tight election win is expected to embolden conservative elements of the Coalition.

A conservative MP reportedly said right-wing backbenchers would now be able to dictate government policy.

"[The Prime Minister's] theory was to win and win comfortably, so the conservatives would all have to kneel at the altar of Malcolm Turnbull," the unnamed MP told News Corp.

"Well, I think someone else will be kneeling at the conservative altar now."

Mr Pyne said colleagues who snipe anonymously lacked "character" and "wherewithal".

"Whoever said that, if they did really say it, they should put their name to things like that," he told RN Breakfast.

"It sounds very brave and chest beating when you say it anonymously, but I'd love a person who says things like that to actually put their name to it.

"Because without their name it's just cowardice obviously ... cowardly statements in the press from anonymous sources who haven't got the wherewithal and the strength of character to put their names to those kinds of flowery statements."

Dissent over planned superannuation changes

One policy area causing anger in Liberal ranks is superannuation, after the federal budget proposed slashing tax concessions at the top end.

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Immigration Minister Peter Dutton over the weekend hinted the Government may need to amend the planned overhaul of superannuation.

"None of us should have a tin ear to the public's view about a number of issues including superannuation and the Prime Minister's already flagged that the Government should be looking at these issues," Mr Dutton told News Corp.

"There's no question it was raised during the campaign [by voters]."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Coalition was divided over superannuation.

"The Government's sending very mixed messages about their budget, aren't they?" he said.

Mr Turnbull before the election said his changes to superannuation were ironclad, yet you've seen a conga line of conservative ministers and his backbenchers come out and say they're going to revisit the superannuation changes."

Coalition prevails in Flynn

Meanwhile, the ABC's election computer has given the central Queensland seat of Flynn to Liberal-National Party MP Ken O'Dowd.

The Coalition now holds 75 seats, while four remain in doubt. It needs 76 to govern in its own right.

The Government also leads in the Queensland seat of Capricornia by 150 votes, with about 85 per cent of the vote counted.

But Labor has claimed victory in the Perth seat of Cowan for counter-terrorism expert Anne Aly, who replaces three-term Liberal MP Luke Simpkins.

Mr Turnbull yesterday declared victory before returning to Canberra, where he received a briefing from Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Martin Parkinson.

AustraliaPlus


 

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