Australia General Discussion

[BaconBacon96]

It should also be noted that a free vote would very likely still have failed in a Liberal only vote. The fact that Abbott brought in the Nationals to ensure this shows just how insecure about his own position in the party is.

[BaconBacon96]

Ouch.

lol

Now Abbott and some others are pushing for a plebiscite sometime after the next election. Which, as Turnbull points out, is politically a bad idea. It's madness.

[BaconBacon96]

Plebiscites are also non-binding so even if one was held and the vote was overwhelmingly in favour Abbott could still decline to legislate on it for whatever reason. It's all a deceptive ploy.

[BaconBacon96]

George Brandis was on Sky where he trashed the proposal by Morrison and others to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage.

Cabinet in-fighting is always fun.

[BaconBacon96]

Canning by-election announced for September 19.

[BaconBacon96]

I bet the Liberal party room is going to be watching Canning closely. The margin for the September 19 by-election will be important in any leadership considerations. If the Liberals lose, then surely Abbott is a goner.

[BaconBacon96]

Shorten has said he will respect the result. From the couple of times I heard Singh she came across as a whiny hack so glad to see her following the footsteps of the odious Louise Pratt into retirement.

Are you a paid union official, or a parody of one? No real person can support this decision.

[BaconBacon96]

I think Turnbull is fairly likely to be swapped out for leader, in the case there would be such a challenge.

Why, the F*k would they nominate turnbull for leader, can't they find anyone new or someone they didn't kick out of the leadership before.

Isn't it obvious? He's the most popular potential Liberal leader in the country, according to polling.

[BaconBacon96]

A ReachTel poll in The West Australian has Labor very narrowly ahead on TPP in Canning.

[BaconBacon96]

Hockey is politically very close to Abbott and it's commonly accepted that if Abbott goes as PM he'll go as Treasurer. Few would seriously consider him an alternative leadership prospective.

[BaconBacon96]

In other news, Dyson Heydon has decided to not step down from the Royal Commission, so that little show goes on for a while more.

Given what happened with Bronwyn, you'd think the Coalition would accept the need for swift conclusions to scandals when they appear. Apparently not.

[BaconBacon96]

The government just can't get anything right. They had a relatively good week, only for this leak of a purported Cabinet reshuffle and the resulting leadership speculation on Friday.

[BaconBacon96]

I still suspect there's a large section of the Liberal Party who have a 'anyone but Turnbull' attitude, who'd be more willing to put up Bishop or Morrison as Leader. Then again, I've read recently that even conservatives in the party are coming around to him as the only one who can save the government. That's what desperation does I guess.

[BaconBacon96]

There is some speculation that Turnbull backers want to launch the challenge before the by-election, although my instinct would think that's premature.

However, after this week the Parliament does not sit for another three weeks. Would the Liberals need to wait that long to have a leadership spill, or can an emergency meeting be called in-between parliamentary sittings?

[BaconBacon96]

Recent Australian history has shown that incumbency is no longer enough for first-term governments to get reelected on. He would really have to be insane to go to an election with this kind of polling.

Does he even have a trigger for a double dissolution though?

[BaconBacon96]

It's happening!

[BaconBacon96]

And he's challenging. He's attacked Abbott leadership, his 'captain's calls' and interestingly, his Cabinet decision making.

[BaconBacon96]

Abbott has been strangely silent, a full hour after Turnbull's speech.

[BaconBacon96]

Thinking about Cabinet changes. I think it's safe to say Joe Hockey, Kevin Andrews, Mathias Cormann and Eric Abetz would resign. Peter Dutton maybe? Who is supporting who isn't clear on this one.

[BaconBacon96]

Sky News said there are 23 undecideds. That's a lot.

Edit: Abbott to speak in approximately 10 minutes.

[BaconBacon96]

Hockey going after Turnbull.

Sky News are also saying that Peter Dutton is emerging as Abbott's new favoured Deputy Leader.

[BaconBacon96]

Apparently Warren Truss is gonna speak.

lolwat

[BaconBacon96]

Laura Jayes from Sky News is now saying there are reports Scott Morrison has done a deal with Abbott to become Deputy Leader.

Who the f**k knows what's going on at this point.

EDIT: Now Morrison is backing Abbott but not running for Deputy.

[BaconBacon96]

I'm a little worried for Turnbull, I must say. Morrison probably sways a fair amount of votes and there's been a lack of Ministers coming out for Turnbull.

He's still the favourite no doubt, although the margin will probably be lower than previously thought.

[BaconBacon96]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=9&v=FpTIwLehLTE

Palmer has done a Goodbye Tony video.

THIS. CHANGES. EVERYTHING.