Abetz talks of Liberals’ ‘untidiness’

LIBERAL Senator Eric Abetz says there was “no option other than to elect a new leadership team” once a surprise spill was called by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

In a letter to Liberal party members Senator Abetz said the “untidiness of recent weeks had been difficult for all”.

“Be assured no one in the Parliementary party was happy with the events which unfolded after as surprise spill was called by the former prime minister which then led to 13 ministerial resignations — there was no option other than to elect a new leadership team,” he said.

Mr Turnbull called the surprise spill for August 21 after several days of leadership speculation about Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton mounting a challenge amid conservative unrest about the National Energy Guarantee.

Senators Abetz, Jonathon Duniam and David Bushby voted for Mr Dutton, who lost 48-35 in the first spill.

The three Tasmanians were among the first to sign a petition that called for the August 24 party room meeting that resulted in the leadership spill.

Senator Abetz, who has been a bitter enemy of Mr Turnbull since he was demoted from the Cabinet after the overthrow of Tony Abbott in 2015, cited an opinion piece by past president Richard Alston about “some of the difficulties facing the party”.

“Our new leadership team have the qualities to turn the electoral tide on the basis of a strong policy program that resonates and an awareness to the issues that are important to our fellow Australians,” he said.

He said that in Tasmania the commitments remained firmly in place — from City Deals to Hydro 2.0, from Antarctic funding to irrigation schemes.

Senator Abetz said the posi- tive policy shift included: “PUTTING energy prices before the Paris (the emission commitment of the Abbott government). RETURNING small business to Cabinet from which it should never have been removed. A FRESH approach in education (which) will enable us to resolve the Catholic School funding impasse.”

“In brief thanks for your forbearance during the recent unsettled period,” he wrote in the letter.

“However, we are now ready to face our state and national challenges in a consultative and focused manner which reflects the aspirational values of our fellow citizens.”