Abbott on front foot as leadership stoush looms

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has insisted that he will remain leader of his party and the nation in a tense interview on Melbourne radio.

In a thinly-veiled swipe at party room colleagues, Mr Abbott dismissed as “nonsense, absolute nonsense” the speculation that he may be ousted before the next federal election because he is so unpopular.

Speaking on 3AW early on Thursday, Mr Abbott said “you do not change leaders” in the face of political adversity. He was responding to questions from radio host Neil Mitchell and on-air callers about his poor record in office to date.

When asked if he will be replaced, Mr Abbott said: “You do not change leaders, you rally behind someone and stick to the plan.”

The Prime Minister sought to blame the Senate for his failure to pass legislation.

“Our main failing is that we have had difficulties with the Senate. I think that’s a pretty good record,” he said.

One caller to the station who identified as a Liberal voter described Mr Abbott as the “world’s worst salesman.”

Mr Abbott responded: “I say look at the record.”

Government backbenchers are growing increasingly frustrated with their leader, Fairfax Media has reported.

An unnamed Liberal politician quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald described the government as being in “anarchy”, which he or she attributed to the “command and control” exerted by the PM’s office.

The Prime Minister has “lost of the respect” of his colleagues and has “just months” to turn around his performance, a senior Liberal was reported to have said.

Mr Abbott described the story as “nonsense”, but did not directly challenge the veracity of the quotes.

Government leader in the Senate Eric Abetz was forced to respond to questions about the party leadership during a press conference in Tasmania late on Thursday morning.

Senator Abetz admitted that there may be “one or two” grumbling backbenchers, but insisted the overwhelming majority were committed to the government’s agenda.

The Senator also seemed to cast doubt on the so-called “senior” Liberal who put an expiry date on Abbott’s leadership.

“What’s the name?” he said. “Ah, see, there’s no name.”

“If this sort of backgrounding is occurring, it’s just people who are not willing to put their names to it.”

Mr Abbott tried to reset his political message early in the new year after extensive backlash to the government’s first budget and its poor management of the national debate on such topics as health, education and taxation reform.

This plan almost immediately backfired when the government’s stealthy attempt to implement a GP co-payment via a legislative backdoor was widely criticised.

Mr Abbott was forced to instruct his health minister to reverse the changes. There are also reports of a verbal stoush between Treasurer Joe Hockey and the embattled leader over the co-payment attempt.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison have been touted by some political commentators as both hungry for the top job and legitimate contenders.

source:thenewdaily.com.au