Australia General Discussion

[Knives]

Given the result, Brough looks like he could go ahead with that challenge.

Wouldn't he have way too much baggage though?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Given the result, Brough looks like he could go ahead with that challenge.

Wouldn't he have way too much baggage though?

Again, Brough would not be running to win.

[Knives]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!

ASIAN CHAMPIONS!!!!

[Hifly]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!

ASIAN CHAMPIONS!!!!

You should really get twitter and spare us from these posts.

[Knives]

Jane Prentice all but said that Tony's time is ticking refusing to deny there would be a challenge.

[morgieb]

https://twitter.com/vanonselenp

Some stunning tweets here.

[Ebowed]

Jane Prentice all but said that Tony's time is ticking refusing to deny there would be a challenge.

Yeah, that sort of went over my head at the time having watched hours of Wayne and Nicholls giving their thoughts (a thoroughly enjoyable evening).  It's everywhere now.  This little speech tomorrow is going to be some of Abbott's most highly anticipated remarks yet.  Oh, the excitement!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The noises are that Turnbull, Morrison and Bishop are "talking" ... with Turnbull being the most likely candidate.

[You kip if you want to...]

How are Labor gonna go at all this? Surely going for an attack of 'changing leaders won't change anything/unelected PM/no mandate' will be a bit've a joke from them.

[checkers]

Based on Shorten's performance on Insiders he just sort of pleaded ignorance of the internal struggles of the LNP and stressed that changing leaders wouldn't change the underlying problem - that people didn't like their policies.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

So... the plot thickens.

Turnbull (who is still overseas) said he supports the Prime Minister and will not be challenging.

[Knives]

Based on Shorten's performance on Insiders he just sort of pleaded ignorance of the internal struggles of the LNP and stressed that changing leaders wouldn't change the underlying problem - that people didn't like their policies.

This is mostly true but changing leaders does give the LNP enough time to revamp and start again.

[Knives]

So... the plot thickens.

Turnbull (who is still overseas) said he supports the Prime Minister and will not be challenging.

He probably doesn't have the numbers.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

So... the plot thickens.

Turnbull (who is still overseas) said he supports the Prime Minister and will not be challenging.

He probably doesn't have the numbers.

This is ridiculous now... Abbott is refusing to go, Turnbull is refusing to challenge...

His position is untenable now. The situation of a stalking-horse challenge, followed by his resignation and a spill is looking more and more likely.

[Knives]

So... the plot thickens.

Turnbull (who is still overseas) said he supports the Prime Minister and will not be challenging.

He probably doesn't have the numbers.

This is ridiculous now... Abbott is refusing to go, Turnbull is refusing to challenge...

His position is untenable now. The situation of a stalking-horse challenge, followed by his resignation and a spill is looking more and more likely.

Just watch Morrison come swooping in. ugh, that would just be the worst.

[Talleyrand]

My prediction- After a stalking horse challenge from Mal Brough, Tony will resign. Then Bishop will be elected party leader unanimously with Turnbull as deputy. Swift, painless transition in time for the NSW poll in March.

[BaconBacon96]

My prediction- After a stalking horse challenge from Mal Brough, Tony will resign. Then Bishop will be elected party leader unanimously with Turnbull as deputy. Swift, painless transition in time for the NSW poll in March.

^^^

This. Hockey will also be dumped as Treasurer and replaced with Turnbull.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I kind of disagree that it will be Bishop.

She's an unmarried, childless woman ... everything said about Gillard would come into play. That doesn't sit well with a lot of the voting base. She also knows that people started digging into Gillard's private life the moment she became PM... it would be the same for Bishop and let's say there's certainly some decent skeletons to find.

I think Bishop is actually content where she is, for the above reasons and others.

My money is on Turnbull PM, Bishop retains Deputy and FA and Morrison gets kicked up to Treasurer.

[BaconBacon96]

Quite possibly. While obviously Turnbull might not sit well with much of the Liberal base, it's not as if they have anyone else to vote for.

What Bishop has going for her is her perceived strength on foreign policy, as in her handling of the MH17 disaster and ISIS.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Ipsos has its headlines out - 54-46 ALP (based on 2013 preferences - 56-44 based on respondent-allocated) - going by that respondent allocated 2PP, the personal ratings should be entertaining.

[Barnes]

I was reading online that there's the possibility of a snap election this year if Abbott gets dumped. We'll see how the popularity boost transpires (if at all) when that happens. I would think that Labor is at least talking about the possibility.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Ipsos has its headlines out - 54-46 ALP (based on 2013 preferences - 56-44 based on respondent-allocated) - going by that respondent allocated 2PP, the personal ratings should be entertaining.

As promised... the personal ratings are a joy to behold.

Approval
Abbott: 29% (-9)
Shorten: 48% (+2)

Disapproval
Abbott: 67% (+10)
Shorten: 38% (-3)

Preferred PM
Abbott: 34% (-5)
Shorten: 50% (+3)

So, that's net approval for Shorten of +10 and -38 for Abbott ... Gillard's worst was -40 in March 2013.

[Barnes]

Abbott's speech will be geo-block free online through ABC News 24, FYI.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Abbott's speech will be geo-block free online through ABC News 24, FYI.

Lol... brilliant.

[Talleyrand]

What time will it be?