Ciobo fortunes wax, wane in four tumultuous days

WHAT a difference four days make in Federal politics. Last Friday, the political stocks of Steven Ciobo were unclear after a messy leadership coup that saw a failed challenge by Peter Dutton to then-prime minster Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Ciobo quit as tourism minister – saying Turnbull had lost party-room backing – then failed in a bid to become the Liberal’s deputy leader and was panned by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate for being interested in “self-advancement”, not the city. When Mr Ciobo spoke to the Bulletin at 3.50pm on Friday — hours after Scott Morrison unexpectedly won a vote to be prime minister over Mr Dutton — Mr Ciobo sounded shattered. He had reportedly voted for close friend Mr Dutton and lost in a last-minute bid of his own to replace Julie Bishop as Liberal Party deputy. Exhausted, he was on his way to the airport, Gold Coast-bound. But fast forward to yesterday morning and Mr Ciobo was back in Cabinet as defence industry minister and doing media on the Gold Coast, joking and excitedly talking up the Coalition’s chances at next year’s election even if polls didn’t support his bullishness: “I’m an optimist. I’m brimming with energy. I look forward to continuing to be as strong a voice as I can. I’m so excited we have excellent representation across the city and there is a new sense of energy about what we have to do now – so bring it on,” he chirped.