2009 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill

A leadership spill for the Liberal Party of Australia was held on 1 December 2009. The incumbent leader Malcolm Turnbull was defeated by Tony Abbott on the second ballot; Joe Hockey also stood as a candidate. Abbott thus replaced Turnbull as Leader of the Opposition, and would lead the party to the 2010 federal election.

2009 Liberal Party of Australia
leadership spill
1 December 2009
 
Candidate Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Joe Hockey
1st Rd. 35 26 23
1st Rd. % 41.67% 30.95% 27.38%
2nd Rd. 42 41 Eliminated
2nd Rd.% 50.6% 49.4% Eliminated
Leader before election

Malcolm Turnbull

 Elected Leader

Tony Abbott

Australia
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Australia
Constitution
The Crown
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
States and territories
Local government
Foreign relations
Ideology
This article is part of
a series about
Malcolm Turnbull

Prime Minister of Australia
This article is part of
a series about
Tony Abbott

Prime Minister of Australia

The spill was the culmination of a dispute within the Liberal Party over its response to the Rudd Government's proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS). Turnbull supported the introduction of an ETS and sought to negotiate amendments to government's proposed legislation. Abbott came to represent many Liberal MPs who were climate change sceptics or otherwise opposed the ETS. After Turnbull survived a spill motion (a motion to declare the leadership vacant[1]) against his leadership in late November 2009, Abbott declared his candidacy and a subsequent spill was moved on 1 December. Hockey—a moderate who had been a supporter of Turnbull's position on the ETS—also stood. While Hockey had been expected to win, he was knocked out in the first round of voting. Abbott subsequently defeated Turnbull in the second round, 42–41. Julie Bishop, who voted for Turnbull, was re-elected unopposed as the party's deputy leader.

Background

Malcolm Turnbull was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2004 federal election. In January 2007 he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Water Resources by Prime Minister John Howard.[2][3] After the Australian Labor Party defeated the Howard government in the 2007 election, Turnbull, Brendan Nelson and Tony Abbott announced they would each contest the Liberal Party leadership.[4] Nelson defeated Turnbull in a ballot after Abbott withdrew his candidacy. Turnbull became the Shadow Treasurer on Nelson's frontbench.[5]

Nelson's leadership of the Liberal Party was beset by poor opinion poll numbers.[6][7] There was speculation that Turnbull would challenge Nelson for the leadership in late 2008; however, Nelson caught Turnbull by surprise by calling a snap spill of the party's leadership positions while Turnbull was returning from an overseas holiday.[8] The spill was moved on 16 September 2008. Turnbull defeated Nelson by four votes, becoming the leader of the Liberal Party and of the Opposition Coalition between the Liberals and the National Party.[9] Nelson later resigned from the House of Representatives.[10]

Climate change policy dispute

Turnbull was regarded as a "believer" in global warming. As Environment Minister, he had overseen the introduction of an emissions trading scheme (ETS) as a policy of the Liberal Party shortly before the Howard government's defeat. However, many of Turnbull's fellow MPs in the Coalition were climate change deniers. Tensions within the Coalition on climate change policy had contributed to the downfall of Nelson's leadership.[11]

As leader of the Liberal Party, Turnbull supported the introduction of an ETS. In June 2009, he indicated in principle support for an ETS proposed by the Rudd Government despite the opposition of his Coalition partner, the National Party.[12] Turnbull subsequently outlined the Coalition's position that it would oppose the ETS introduced to Parliament by the government, but would be open to negotiating an amended version.[13]

Turnbull's willingness to negotiate with the government was met with opposition from some Coalition MPs. By September 2009, The Australian was reporting that only 12 of the 59 Liberal backbenchers supported negotiations.[14] On 18 October 2009, Turnbull fronted a meeting of Coalition MPs with a proposal to negotiate amendments to the government's ETS. This meeting supported his proposal, in what was seen as a test of Turnbull's leadership.[15][16] However, there was speculation that a number of Coalition Senators would defy Turnbull and cross the floor of the Senate to vote against any ETS legislation.[17] The ETS opponents argued that it would be premature for Parliament to pass ETS legislation before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change.[18]

The divisions within the Coalition were laid bare in an episode of Four Corners, aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on 9 November 2009. The program featured the Coalition's leader in the Senate, Nick Minchin, suggesting that man-made climate change was a conspiracy of the political left and disputing Turnbull's authority to strike a deal with the government on the ETS.[19] Later in the month, Minchin spoke against the ETS in the Senate. Abbott—who had publicly supported the ETS—was now arguing that the Coalition should abandon the policy.[20] Turnbull attacked Abbott's change of mind, stating: "Tony has expressed a number of views, each of which is at odds with the view he expressed before".[21]

On 23 November 2009, the Coalition's climate change spokesman Ian Macfarlane agreed to a deal with the government to amend the ETS legislation.[22] The amendments provided industry with substantial compensation and exemptions from the ETS. Turnbull took the deal to Liberal MPs for formal approval, but a majority of backbenchers opposed it. Turnbull nonetheless claimed he had the Coalition's support, by counting as supporters the 20 members of the Coalition Shadow Cabinet who he argued should be presumed to support the deal. This claim was met with rancour by his opponents in the Coalition.[23]

Anger at Turnbull's response to the 23 November 2009 meeting triggered a spill motion against his leadership three days later. The motion was moved by Kevin Andrews, a former Minister in the Howard government, but was defeated by a vote of 48 to 35.[24][25] Andrews was not seen as a genuine prospect for the leadership, so the close vote on the spill motion was considered a blow to Turnbull.[26] While Abbott supported Turnbull at the time of Andrews' spill,[27] he subsequently resigned from the frontbench.[28] Several others joined Abbott in resigning, including Nick Minchin, Eric Abetz, Sophie Mirabella and Tony Smith.[29]

Abbott and Hockey challenges

Abbott announced on 27 November—one day after Turnbull survived Kevin Andrews' spill motion—that he would challenge Turnbull for the leadership. Abbott committed to withdrawing his candidacy if Joe Hockey was to challenge.[30] Abbott confirmed his opposition to the ETS legislation, questioning why Australia would legislate for a potentially detrimental economic measure before other countries had committed to do the same.[31] A Newspoll released on 30 November placed Hockey at 33%, Turnbull at 30% and Abbott at 19%, when voters were asked who would be the "best person to lead" the Liberal Party.[32][33] Speculation flourished that Hockey would challenge Turnbull, and Hockey consulted senior party dignitaries such as Howard and Costello about whether he should run.[34]

Hockey faced a dilemma. A moderate in the Liberal Party, Hockey had been a consistent supporter of the ETS. Running against Turnbull would mean taking the leadership with the support of the party's right wing and climate change sceptics.[35] Turnbull seized on the dilemma, claiming Hockey had given Turnbull his "complete support" and was still a firm supporter of the ETS legislation.[36]

Hockey attempted to resolve his dilemma by declaring that as leader he would allow a conscience vote on the ETS legislation. Abbott rejected Hockey's declaration, and reneged on his earlier indication that he would withdraw his candidacy for Hockey. Abbott stated: "It now seems pretty clear we could change the leader to Joe and these offensive bills could still go through the Parliament".[37] On Hockey's candidacy, Turnbull claimed that Hockey had pledged his opposition to the spill motion. However, it was expected that if the spill motion succeeded, Hockey would stand for the leadership against Turnbull and Abbott.[38] Hockey was generally expected to win the ballot and become leader.[39][40] To the end, Turnbull refused to stand aside as leader, insisting he would defeat the spill motion.[41] Hockey later alleged that Turnbull had promised he would not stand against Hockey if the spill motion was successful. Turnbull denied that he had given, and therefore broken, any such undertaking.[42]

Results

On 1 December 2009, Liberal MPs convened to consider the spill motion to vacate the leadership. The motion passed 48–34, following which Turnbull, Hockey and Abbott contested a ballot.[43] Hockey was seen as the favourite to win the ballot, but was knocked out in the first round of voting, receiving 23 votes to Turnbull's 26 and Abbott's 35. A second round of voting ensued, in which Abbott defeated Turnbull by one vote (42–41).[44] Fran Bailey, a supporter of Turnbull, was absent for the vote,[45] and there was one vote of "no", which was recorded as informal.[46][47]

Julie Bishop remained the deputy leader of the party, without being challenged for the position. Abbott thus became the third consecutive leader, after Nelson and Turnbull, for whom Bishop would serve as deputy.[48] After the ballots, Bishop declared that she had voted for Turnbull,[49] although Turnbull doubted her loyalty and Bishop resorted to proving it by retrieving her ballot papers.[50]

Ballots
Spill motion to vacate leadership
Support Votes
Yes 48
No 34
Leadership ballot
Candidate First round Second round
Tony Abbott 35 42
Malcolm Turnbull 26 41
Joe Hockey 23 Eliminated

Aftermath

Abbott said he was "humbled and daunted" by his unexpected election,[51] while Hockey expressed surprise at his defeat.[52] Upon his election, Abbott acknowledged his propensity for making controversial public statements—which with his Catholicism and background as a trainee priest earnt him the moniker of "the Mad Monk"—and apologised for all his "errors of the past".[53][54] A week after the ballot, Abbott named his Shadow Cabinet. Hockey remained in the key position of Shadow Treasurer. Three Howard government veterans—Kevin Andrews, Philip Ruddock and Bronwyn Bishop—were recalled from the backbench, and outspoken National Party MP and climate change sceptic Barnaby Joyce was appointed to the shadow Finance portfolio.[55] Turnbull voluntarily moved to the backbench.[56]

Under Abbott's leadership, the Liberal Party voted against the ETS legislation in the Senate on 3 December 2009. Two Liberal Senators—Judith Troeth and Sue Boyce—crossed the floor to support the legislation.[57] In February 2010, Abbott outlined his alternative climate change policy, which would directly fund or subsidise emission reduction measures rather than cap emissions from industry.[58]

Speaking in the House of Representatives in February 2010, Turnbull attacked Abbott's climate change policy and praised the government's ETS legislation. He argued that Abbott's subsidy-based policy would be a "recipe for fiscal recklessness".[59] Turnbull later announced he would leave Parliament at the end of his term, before changing his mind within weeks. He claimed that his change of mind was the result of his anger at the government's decision to delay its ETS legislation until 2013.[60][61] He denied being interested in regaining the leadership of the Liberal Party, saying "I don't think there is any likelihood of that I assure you".[60] Turnbull subsequently gave qualified support to Abbott's climate change policy, arguing that while it was inferior to an ETS in principle, it was preferable to the government's approach of delaying action until 2013.[62] While it was the third leadership spill motion in three years, the Liberal Party did not attempt another spill motion for six years after, until the February 2015 leadership spill motion which was defeated 61 votes to 39. In September 2015, Malcolm Turnbull called for another spill, directly challenging Tony Abbott in a rematch between the two, and winning the vote 54-44 to return to the position of leader of the Liberal Party, and as a result, displaced Abbott as Prime Minister of Australia.

For Hockey it is viewed that his failure to come up with a firm position on the ETS had blown what turned out to be his only chance to become Liberal leader in 2009. When Prime Minister Tony Abbott's leadership came under question in 2014 and 2015, Hockey now Treasurer was not speculated as a potential successor to Abbott.

See also

References
  1. Macquarie Dictionary Online. Macquarie Online Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  2. Hudson, Phillip (8 June 2010). "Malcolm Turnbull announces he will quit parliament and won't contest his seat of Wentworth at next federal election". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  3. Rodgers, Emma (6 April 2010). "Turnbull walks away with swipe at Abbott". 702 ABC Sydney. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  4. Hudson, Phillip (26 November 2007). "Nelson v Abbott v Turnbull". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  5. "Turnbull new shadow treasurer". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  6. Coorey, Phillip (2 September 2008). "Liberals' push to throw the book at Nelson". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  7. "Liberals struggled under Nelson: poll". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  8. Packham, Ben (16 September 2008). "Brendan Nelson pulls Italian job on challenger Malcolm Turnbull". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  9. Barrowclough, Anne. "Australian Liberals leader ousted in snap election ballot". The Times. News International. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  10. Kerr, Christian (21 October 2009). "Brendan Nelson signs off, then hits the road". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  11. Carney, Shaun (6 May 2009). "Climate change debate gets messy". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  12. Davis, Mark (1 June 2009). "Coalition split looms over emissions trading". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  13. Coorey, Phillip (27 July 2009). "Turnbull lashes out at climate sceptics". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  14. "Liberal backbench against negotiating with Labor on Emissions Trading Scheme". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  15. "Emissions trading scheme vote is Malcolm Turnbull's test". perthnow. News Limited. 18 October 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  16. Alexander, Cathy (18 October 2009). "Turnbull triumphs on climate amendments". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  17. Gordon, Josh (18 October 2009). "Mutiny looms for Turnbull over emissions deal". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  18. Maiden, Samantha (17 November 2009). "Turnbull faces ETS revolt from 10 MPs". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  19. Coorey, Phillip (10 November 2009). "Climate row hits boiling point". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  20. Coorey, Phillip (19 November 2009). "Turnbull burnt by revolt on climate". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  21. Grattan, Michelle (21 November 2009). "Turnbull takes aim at Abbott". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  22. Coorey, Phillip (24 November 2009). "Turnbull cuts a deal". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  23. Coorey, Phillip (25 November 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull survives backbench revolt, for now". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  24. "Turnbull's chance to rebuild". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  25. "Turnbull won't survive, says Andrews". perthnow. News Limited. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  26. van Onselen, Peter (26 November 2009). "Turnbull has two choices and both lead to oblivion". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  27. "I'm ready to challenge Turnbull: Andrews". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  28. Shanahan, Dennis (26 November 2009). "Tony Abbott resigns from Liberal front bench over ETS stance". perthnow. News Limited. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  29. Franklin, Matthew; Shanahan, Dennis (27 November 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull defies mutineers". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  30. "Turnbull defiant, Abbot to seek leadership". perthnow. News Limited. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  31. Maiden, Samantha (27 November 2009). "Tony Abbott will challenge Malcolm Turnbull on Monday". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  32. "Newspoll" (PDF). 30 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  33. Shanahan, Dennis (30 November 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull pays the price for mayhem". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  34. Franklin, Matthew (30 November 2009). "Joe Hockey set to take on Malcolm Turnbull". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  35. Milne, Glenn (30 November 2009). "Joe Hockey's political hot potato". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  36. "Malcolm Turnbull says he has Joe Hockey's 'complete support'". Adelaidenow. News Limited. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  37. Farr, Malcolm (30 November 2009). "Tony Abbott to stand against Joe Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull for Liberal leadership". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  38. Maiden, Samantha (30 November 2009). "Tony Abbott reneges on Joe Hockey leadership deal to stand in spill tomorrow". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  39. "Hockey sticks with Abbott on front bench". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  40. Riseborough, Jesse (1 December 2009). "Hockey Likely to Contest Liberal Party Leadership (Update2)". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  41. Packham, Ben; Lewis, Steve (30 November 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull defiant over his leadership and says he has the support of Joe Hockey should there be a leadership spill". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  42. Kelly, Paul (3 December 2009). "Liberal party making policy on the run". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  43. "New Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott tells how he plans to beat PM Kevin Rudd". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  44. Packham, Ben; Drape, Julian (1 December 2009). "Premier John Brumby wonders whether new federal Liberal leader Tony Abbott will have his heart in the job". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  45. McMahon, Stephen (1 December 2009). "Liberal leadership ballot decided by single vote after Victorian MP Fran Bailey failed to travel". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  46. Maley, Paul (2 December 2009). "I was asked to be a hypocrite; I could not: Joe Hockey". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  47. "Abbott wins Liberal leadership (transcript)". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  48. Kerr, Christian (2 December 2009). "Julie Bishop keeps job continuity as deputy leader". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  49. "Deputy leader Bishop voted for Turnbull". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  50. Schubert, Misha; Murphy, Katharine (4 December 2009). "Bishop accused of dodging Turnbull". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  51. Chipperfield, Mark (1 December 2009). "'Mad Monk' Tony Abbott dooms Kevin Rudd's Australian climate change bill". The Times. News International. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  52. "Hockey congratulates Abbott". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  53. "Profile: Tony Abbott". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  54. O'Mally, Sandra (1 December 2009). "Abbott pledges to tackle govt head on". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  55. Packham, Ben (8 December 2009). "Opposition Leader Tony Abbott unveils new shadow cabinet". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  56. Berkovic, Nicola (2 December 2009). "Malcolm Turnbull takes time to rethink his future". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  57. Davis, Mark (3 December 2009). "Divisions exposed as two senators cross the floor". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  58. Franklin, Matthew (3 February 2010). "Tony Abbott's climate change plan a 'populist con job'". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  59. Grattan, Michelle; Arup; Tom (9 February 2010). "'Brave' Turnbull blasts Liberal plan to cut emissions". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  60. Hayes, Isabel (1 May 2010). "Turnbull to recontest Wentworth". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  61. "Kevin Rudd delays plans for emissions trading scheme until 2013". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  62. Franklin, Matthew (19 May 2010). "Malcom Turnbull backs Tony Abbott on climate". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 6 July 2010.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.