Malcolm Turnbull replaces Tony Abbott as Australian Prime Minister

[rootProbiscus]

Source: The Age

Malcolm Turnbull will become Australia's 29th prime minister after beating Tony Abbott in a dramatic leadership ballot in Canberra on Monday night.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-defeats-tony-abbott-in-liberal-leadership-spill-to-become-prime-minister-20150914-gjmhiu.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Wow - they can unseat a PM damn quick in Australia

Last edited Mon Sep 14, 2015, 08:54 AM - Edit history (1)

The drama began just after question time when Mr Turnbull paid a visit to Mr Abbott requesting a leadership ballot on Tuesday morning. Earlier, Ms Bishop had told Mr Abbott he had lost the support of his partyroom and of the cabinet and urged him to quit or hold a ballot.

Mr Abbott responded by urging his colleagues not to follow Labor in ditching a first-term prime minister and declared he would win the ballot, which he scheduled for Monday night. He left the partyroom with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and the New South Wales backbencher Karen Macnamara.

So, nothing public about this until this morning, and he's gone by the end of the day.

This is how fast it can happen - UK timings:

0603 (in Prime Minister's Questions) Tony Abbott advises Labor they cannot trust their leader Shorten, given he backstabbed two prime ministers.
0651 Malcolm Turnbull is seeking a party ballot. He will step down from the ministry.
0743 Some people are reporting the ballot could be held in the “normal Tuesday meeting”.
0919 The prime minister says there will be a ballot tonight.
1249 In the leadership, Malcolm Turnbull: 54, Tony Abbott, 44.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/sep/14/tony-abbotts-leadership-under-pressure-as-mps-gather-politics-live

6 hours to change PMs. And an hour before that started, the old PM felt confident enough to make jokes about backstabbers in the opposition party.

[shawn703]

2. Surprised he lasted as long as he did.

He could make the Shrub look like a genius.

[sharp_stick]

5. I had no idea he was that stupid

I knew him as a right wing hack but I never thought he was a blithering idiot too. They're well to be rid of him that's for sure.

[Matilda]

10. Not only a blithering idiot,

but a racist, homophobic, bigoted, misogynistic ratbag. Good riddance; hope he leaves politics for good.

He won the last election with the aid of Rupert Murdoch's media empire (70% of coverage), but became so detested that even Murdoch couldn't save him (although his minions did their best).

Turnbull is a different kettle of fish – so moderate that many of us think he joined the wrong party by mistake. He'd be far more at home in the Labor Party. Great pity.

[Chakab]

6. How the fuck did he keep his leadership postition after that debacle about the soldier?

[cstanleytech]

7. Its almost like they cloned Bush. nt

[Matilda]

11. He makes Bush look like an intellectual.

Abbott's always had influential people smoothing the way for him, but nobody could save him from himself in the end.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Wow! Amazing! He's a national embarrassment. You may be right.

Lesser idiots couldn't pull it off!

[rurallib]

3. Rather surprising news

Abbot was sure far right. Odd the 'liberal' party is the right wingers in Australia.
Here is hoping Mr. Turnbull is much more moderate.

[rpannier]

4. Turnbull is pro-gay marriage and believes in climate change

Beyond that, I don't know
Turnbull has said that he won't change the party's stance on the environment though -- which is not good, since his party seems to be Inhofe x10

[cstanleytech]

8. I wouldnt be to concerned about their environment stance atm.

Not because its not important but because right now until there is really a massive amount of damage from it like the sea levels being 3 feet or higher you probably wont get such people to change their minds, they just are in total denial.

[Matilda]

16. But nearly half the party are RWNJs.

They're climate change denialists, and think same-sex marriage is an abomination.

They don't really like Turnbull, but Abbott's poll figures have been so consistently low, they're scared, so they'll tolerate Turnbull. Just as long as he doesn't rock their boat

[LeftishBrit]

9. HahahahaHAHAHAhaHAHAHAHARHAR!!!

GLOAT!

I know it's on the other side of the world from me; but I just LOATHE Abbott. I realize that Turnbull is also a conservative, but I think that he's not quite as bad. Abbott has always struck me as a cross between Nigel Farage and Rick Santorum. Even if he has only been replaced by a David Cameron type, it's still an improvement.

Schadenfreude!!!

[dzhuboi]

12. Australia: Coup capital of the democratic world

From BBC News:

With five prime ministers in as many years, Canberra has solidified its reputation as the coup capital of the democratic world.

A quarter century of Australian reform under Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard has been followed by an era of revenge.

Malcolm Turnbull, the new prime minister, was once knifed by the leader he deposed, Tony Abbott.

Kevin Rudd was ousted by Julia Gillard but then exacted vengeance by overthrowing her.

It is now over a decade since an Australian prime minister managed to serve out his or her first term.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34249214

Even Italy is shaking its head!

[Matilda]

13. Abbott hasn't been seen since last night.

No presser, no resignation statement, no word.

#Where'sTony? trending on Twitter.

You could always count on Abbott to exhibit a complete lack of class in all circumstances, and he's not disappointing us now.

[Matilda]

15. Finally - took him 14 hours to concede.

Rudd and Gillard both fronted the media immediately after the ballots that removed them, and wrote out their resignations straight after.

Took Abbott 14 hours, and it was an ungracious speech, blaming the media. The very media that made sure he was elected. No thanks to his colleagues – there were still 44 who voted for him, but they were ignored. And left Turnbull with just 90 minutes to get to Government House for his swearing in and back to Parliament House for Question Time at 2.00 p.m.

But the best part is that he missed out by three days on retiring on a prime ministerial $10 million pension. Just gets the party leader's pension. Can’t help but wonder whether the timing was deliberate on Malcolm's part – wouldn't be surprised; there's no love lost.

[roamer65]

14. Good riddance to bad garbage.

Last edited Tue Sep 15, 2015, 12:18 AM - Edit history (1)

Turnbull is about as decent as you can get from the Coalition until the next election.

Then the ALP can take over once again.

[uriel1972]

17. Same shit different shovel...

Mal is just a PR figurehead, he's already said no change on environment and same-sex marriage.
He's sold what was left of his soul to gain the Prime Ministers job.