A clandestine campaign by senior ministers to force a ministerial reshuffle and early election “smacks of defeatism”, said respected Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos, amid a reported push within cabinet to have Joe Hockey removed as Treasurer if the government suffers badly at next month’s Canning by-election.
Senator Sinodinos, a former minister and chief-of-staff to John Howard as prime minister, today issued the extraordinary statement blasting his colleagues for “deliberate leaking and destabilisation”.
Two cabinet ministers have anonymously said Tony Abbott is being urged to dump Mr Hockey and appoint a new Treasurer if the West Australian by-election goes badly for the Liberal Party, Fairfax Media reported.
Potential candidates to replace Mr Hockey include Social Services Minister Scott Morrison and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“Ministers should be working hard to win the Canning by-election rather than backgrounding against a colleague to scapegoat a potential loss,” Senator Sinodinos’s statement read.
“Holding out the prospect of a reshuffle and even a double dissolution election smacks of defeatism and a lack of focus on the substantive issues of governing.
“The Prime Minister should sack any minister or adviser who is engaged in such deliberate leaking and destabilisation.”
Senator Sinodinos did not name Mr Hockey in his statement.
Senator Sinodinos said all Liberals should be working to gain ground against Labor at the by-election, noting the “intelligence, courage and commitment” of candidate Andrew Hastie, a former Special Air Service captain.
“(Voters in Canning) have the opportunity to pass judgment on Bill Shorten, one of the most hollow individuals to ever occupy a leading political office,” the statement read.
“Mr Shorten is the real enemy, not fellow Liberals.”
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said the government’s problem was its economic message, rather than its salesman.
“Unemployment is higher, the deficit has doubled since last year, we have got 17 new or increased taxes, we have got business and consumer confidence flat-lining; it is really no wonder that people are talking about changing the Treasurer,” Ms Plibersek told the Seven Network.
“The real problem is that there is no plan for the transition of the Australian economy. The construction phase of the mining boom is coming to an end, what sort of work are we going to be doing in ten and twenty years time? How will we keep our economy strong and growing so there are opportunities for our kids?”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Mr Hockey, urging his critics to recognise the “enormous task” of repairing the budget after inheriting “record debt and record deficits” from Labor.
“Not only does Joe have to deal with repairing the budget, we’re also dealing with irresponsible Labor senators who are refusing to pass measures in the Senate including their own savings that they had identified,” Ms Bishop said in Sydney.
Asked to rate Mr Hockey’s performance as Treasurer out of 10, Ms Bishop refused: “That’s a ridiculous question. I don’t go around rating performances of journalists, I don’t rate performances of actors, I’m not going to rate performances of my cabinet colleagues; that’s nonsense.”
Junior minister Simon Birmingham rejected “every single aspect” of the speculation over Mr Hockey’s future.
“Joe Hockey has done a brilliant job on budget restoration, on job creation and on developing policies that will take the government through to the next election and beyond,” he told Sky News.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan dismissed speculation Mr Hockey could be punted in favour of high-performing minister Scott Morrison.
“I don’t comment on gossip and nonsense,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said the government’s economic failures were to blame.
“It is really no wonder that people are talking about changing the treasurer,” she told the Seven Network.
“The real problem is that there is no plan for the transition of the Australian economy.”
source:theaustralian.com.au
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