Abbott calls for early leadership vote today
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, fighting for his political life, said he would bring forward to today a meeting of his ruling party to consider a challenge to his leadership in an effort to halt a destabilising internal revolt.
A member of Abbott鈥檚 conservative Liberal Party called on Friday for a secret ballot to decide whether to declare the leadership and deputy leadership positions vacant, to be held at a scheduled meeting tomorrow.
But Abbott said the meeting would be brought forward by a day.
鈥淚t is important to end the uncertainty at the very beginning of the parliamentary sitting week,鈥 Abbott said in a brief statement yesterday.
Abbott has faced criticism in recent weeks over policy decisions ranging from his handling of the economy to awarding an Australian knighthood to Prince Philip.
No member of the government has so far indicated a direct challenge to Abbott, although most attention has focused on Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a former party leader toppled by Abbott.
Turnbull, a millionaire lawyer and former investment banker, has not yet said he will challenge Abbott directly but yesterday he gave the strongest indication yet he would run.
鈥淚f for whatever reason, the leadership of a political party is vacant, then any member of the party can stand ... without any disloyalty to the person whose leadership has been declared vacant,鈥 Turnbull said outside a function in Sydney.
Abbott has admitted mistakes as pressure intensified on his leadership in recent weeks, and vowed to be more 鈥渃ollegial鈥 and 鈥渃onsultative鈥 in his approach after several of his so-called captain鈥檚 calls backfired on his administration.
Political analysts said Abbott鈥檚 move to bring forward the vote on his leadership would give any challenger less time to accumulate support from colleagues, who will return to Canberra for parliament today.
鈥淢y reading of this is that there is very strong support behind the prime minister (and) that it has strengthened,鈥 said Nick Cater, a conservative columnist and commentator.
But the move seemed to backfire with at least some of Abbott鈥檚 colleagues. Influential lawmaker Arthur Sinodinos and former minister Teresa Gambaro were both harshly critical of the decision.
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