Tony Abbott must have been turning cartwheels this morning when he heard the news that Malcolm Turnbull was quitting politics. He should have been crying in his weet-bix. By denying Turnbull a place on the front bench, requested by the former leader, he has effectively forced the brightest star in the Liberal firmament to pack his bags and head back to corporate country.
As political pundit Paul Kelly states in this video, the Libs have lost too many frontline soldiers in recent days. While some, such as Downer and Costello, were approaching the end of their tenure, they nevertheless added experience and gravitas to a party that is increasingly seen as becoming lightweight and redneck at every step. It’s not good enough for Abbott to be the sharpest pencil in the box at this point. Rather than wage the one-man bully boy fight against Labor, Abbott needs to garner capable troops behind his thrust at the Prime Ministership.
Off-siding Turnbull, rather than being a self-protecting tactic, may ensure that the bully boy will be down for the count at the next election.
Did you watch Abbott on Q and A the other night? He’s not showing good form for my liking.
I think Abbott may be in trouble……….. big money likes big representation, and Turnbull offered the appearance of that. Not to mention, the funding he could have pulled in for the election campaign…………