LEADERSHIP CRISIS Entsch in ‘insanity’ broadside
WARREN Entsch has ruled out jumping aboard the chaotic carousel of Liberals angling for a few weeks as prime minister.
The Leichhardt MP called on Tony Abbott to join Malcolm Turnbull in quitting politics if the blade in the Prime Minister’s back proves lethal.
“If this goes to its conclusion and Turnbull decides to step down, Abbott should go with him,” Mr Entsch said.
“Both have got a history of sniping from the sidelines.
“Let’s start with a clean slate, whoever that may be.”
Mr Entsch is livid at a situation that forces Liberal MPs to spend another day loping about like buzzards instead of tending to their electorates.
He has cancelled his attendance at tonight’s grand opening of the new 667-seat All Saints’ Theatre at St Andrew’s Catholic College.
“I think this whole bloody thing is just insane,” he said.
“I’ve had to put in an apology, not because I don’t want to be there, but because I’ve got to stay down here to deal with this bull.
“To me, that was far more important than sitting around this place for another bloody 24 hours.” Those hours will be bloody. Ambitious politicians are dropping like flies from the frontbench as they conspire for top jobs in the new Cabinet, and the list of contenders for boss hog keeps on growing. Members of the Far North’s business community can do little but shake their heads.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Nick Loukas said crucial work was being forgotten in the shemozzle.
“We’re dealing with regional migration visas and trying to get legislation up so we don’t have foreign-speaking skills shortages,” he said.
“We’ve been speaking with the minister, Alan Tudge, but he’s one of the ones who has tendered his resignation.
“This holds up so many important things that affect us up here and across the country.”
Advance Cairns CEO Nick Trompf is pushing ahead with October’s Convoy to Canberra in which a lobby group of more than 50 Far North delegates will visit Parliament House.
Assuming a shotgun election is not called – which would be tantamount to political harikari – the timing could embolden the convoy’s work.
“They can’t go to an election in November because of the Victorian election,” Mr Trompf said.
“The next window becomes early next year.
“In that context, October is a pivotal and critical time.”
The calendar looks iffy for the FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils, which planned to send 13 mayors to the capital in less than four weeks.
Mr Entsch said he held no prime ministerial aspirations but maintained every intention to stand for re-election at the next election.
He was quiet on whether he would back any last-minute ascension bid from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, except to say he hoped there would be at least one candidate “who hasn’t got any blood on their hands”.