Tony Abbott defends his leadership as rumours and internal criticism mounts with calls for him to st - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Tony Abbott has launched a strong defence of his performance as Prime Minister, as internal criticism of his leadership mounts. The ABC has been canvassing government MPs and senators across the country and found concern about Mr Abbott's standing with voters. Several MPs said the Prime Minister was "toxic" in their electorates and one believed it was "game over" for him. Mr Abbott told Fairfax Media this morning speculation that he could step down before the next election if the problems continue was "nonsense". "You do not change leaders, you rally behind someone and you stick to the plan," he said. "We've got a good plan, the point I keep making is we inherited a mess - we've made a good start but we are on the right track. Look at the record." Mr Abbott also took talkback calls with the Melbourne-based station, including one from a man who identified himself as "Andrew", a "fair dinkum" Liberal voter. "You're on the nose with Liberal voters," he told the Prime Minister. "What are you going to do to turn it around? Because I've got to tell you you're the world's worst salesman, Prime Minister."[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-22/abbott-defends-leadership-as-internal-criticism-mounts/6033168[/url]

Tony Abbott won't step down and the Liberals, as much as some may despise of him, won't let him step down either. A key part of their campaigning up until the last federal election was of accusing the Labor party of a lack of integrity and poor leadership. In the time Abbott has been leader of the Liberals in the house (both in opposition and government), the Labor party went through four leaders in the house: Rudd, followed by Gillard, followed by Rudd again, and now lead by Shorten. If he is removed that would destroy any ounce of credibility left with the Liberal party.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;46983995]Tony Abbott won't step down and the Liberals, as much as some may despise of him, won't let him step down either. A key part of their campaigning up until the last federal election was of accusing the Labor party of a lack of integrity and poor leadership. In the time Abbott has been leader of the Liberals in the house (both in opposition and government), the Labor party went through four leaders in the house: Rudd, followed by Gillard, followed by Rudd again, and now lead by Shorten. If he is removed that would destroy any ounce of credibility left with the Liberal party.[/QUOTE] It however shows that there is instability within the Liberal caucus and some pressure to get rid of him Hockey and Turnbull seem to be looking at the leadership position closely though they've never come out and publicly supported it I still stand though that if Turnbull was the leader of the libs, I'd happily vote for him

I'd vote for Turnbull if he didn't need to follow the Liberal Party line.

I'd never vote for Liberal party ever, even if Turnbull was the leader of it. He is just as bad as his lying cunt of a "boss".

I still sit with my belief that Turnbull would be 100% better without Abbott making up dumb ideas seeing as the man is as left wing as the liberals will get

Turnbull is in line with the "Liberal" ideals that the party was founded on before the coalition.. If he were the leader, and could bring it back to the basics without all the huge dollars directing where their policies landed, I'd consider voting LNP. It has been over-run with 'US Republican-esque' neo-liberals with too many vested interests. But, that's a pipedream.

LNP won't change leader without an election while in power. Their internal structure differs quite a lot from labor's and doesn't make it as easy to have a mutiny whenever the PM isn't as popular as they'd like. Sure they'd criticize some of his choices but there is little to no chance he'll be kicked out of office. You simply cannot compare instability in the LNP to ALP, as the ALP has to deal with huge opposing influences from Unions and the likes.

Turnbull seems like an intelligent guy, but I'm seriously amazed that you guys are suggesting you'd vote for him. Apart from the fact you don't vote for the PM, you vote for your local member (unless you're in his electorate), you guys all seem to forget that he is still very fiscally conservative. Yes, he gives the impression as a decent guy and seems to be less conservative than the rest of them on many social reforms, but god damn - he believes in extensive deregulation and privatisation, he believes in solving major issues like climate change by leaving them to the market (don't forget he was the one who weakened the CPRS then somehow convinced the left he was a big supporter). He supports workchoices, is anti-union and is ultimately, not the hero everyone seems to make him out to be. If you support him for him that's fine, it's just this hero-like "he's on the wrong side" status I don't get. He's very very firmly within it, he just happens to be very charismatic which people seem to fall over for. It's like a lot of the people who claim to be 'above' the bullshit media play right into it the other half of the time.

How the Liberals even still exist is beyond me, shame they're in power no matter who the leader is.

[QUOTE=shauntp;46985819]Turnbull seems like an intelligent guy, but I'm seriously amazed that you guys are suggesting you'd vote for him. Apart from the fact you don't vote for the PM, you vote for your local member (unless you're in his electorate), you guys all seem to forget that he is still very fiscally conservative. Yes, he gives the impression as a decent guy and seems to be less conservative than the rest of them on many social reforms, but god damn - he believes in extensive deregulation and privatisation, he believes in solving major issues like climate change by leaving them to the market (don't forget he was the one who weakened the CPRS then somehow convinced the left he was a big supporter). He supports workchoices, is anti-union and is ultimately, not the hero everyone seems to make him out to be. If you support him for him that's fine, it's just this hero-like "he's on the wrong side" status I don't get. He's very very firmly within it, he just happens to be very charismatic which people seem to fall over for. It's like a lot of the people who claim to be 'above' the bullshit media play right into it the other half of the time.[/QUOTE] Being anti-union is synonymous with anti-labor. Unions directly influence labor policy, and are essential to the Labor party. Unions are next to useless these days because they're so heavily politically motivated with labor. They'll throw a tantrum if the LNP steps out of line, but the second labor does, they won't give a crap. Also Turnbull is intelligent, but he's not a good candidate for PM, he's a self motivated businessman in it to make a buck for himself, people here have deluded themselves into thinking he's a good alternative. His only agenda is to line his pockets, which is why he sometimes disagrees with LNP policy that will hurt his personal interests. Also, I don't know where you got "leaving climate change to the market", makes it sound like an ill-thought policy. (It's actually a well-thought transparent policy which would drive progress). He wants a emissions trading scheme, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's progress. More than we have now, yes? And it's better than a blanket tax going to the government that isn't transparent.

He mustn't step down. He needs to lead his party to the next election. He needs to lose government with himself at the leadership. I need to hear his concession speech after losing. After everything his done and continues to do, he doesn't get a quick death.

[QUOTE=Matthew0505;46986809]Like voters are actually going to care about broken promises when the elections happen.[/QUOTE] yeah i heard no voters complain and bitch and protest when Abbott cut funding to the ABC and SBS when he pledged not to and to not fuck with medicare hm

[QUOTE=Matthew0505;46986809]Like voters are actually going to care about broken promises when the elections happen.[/QUOTE] Which is why labor almost won the last election, and why the liberals may almost win the next election.