NO HARD FEELINGS TOWARDS CIOBO, SAYS PM

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison said he had no difficulty putting Gold Coast MP Steven Ciobo back into his Cabinet after the leadership spill drama.

Mr Ciobo, the Member for Moncrieff, resigned as Trade and Tourism Minister during the upheaval, is believed to have initially backed Peter Dutton’s challenge to Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Morrison later defeated Mr Dutton in a secret ballot for the top job and appointed Mr Ciobo as Defence Industry Minister.

“I’ve known Steve a long time. He is a tremendous advocate for the Gold Coast and a strong performing Cabinet Minister,” Mr Morrison said.

“When we put the team together, I was putting it together to run the country. Those sort of things you leave behind. It wasn’t a factor for me and it wasn’t a factor for him.”