Following today’s revelation that Western Australian Liberal MP Luke Simpkins had emailed colleagues and revealed intentions to call for a spill when the party meets next Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott fronted media in an exceedingly short press conference to address the challenge.
Abbott fronted the media at a press conference in Sydney, delivering a statement that lasted well under two minutes and did not take questions from the awaiting media pack.
The biggest revelation of the statement was the assertion that Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop would be “standing with” Tony Abbott to front the spill challenge, meaning it’s just about a foregone conclusion that she will not be contesting for the top job herself.
Former Immigration Minister and current Social Services minister Scott Morrison also ruled out contesting for the position earlier this afternoon, meaning the list of potential challengers is now down to just one name: Malcolm Turnbull.
Prime Minister Abbott stated that the Liberal Party is not the Labor Party, and publicly urged his fellow party members not to entertain a return to the “chaos” and uncertainty of the Gillard/Rudd years.
“They [the spill backers] are asking the party room to vote out the people that the electorate voted in in September 2013.“
Abbott again reaffirmed that his administration has a “strong plan” in place, indicating that he will not be going anywhere without a fight.
Come Tuesday, it’s a fight he will indeed be having.
Photo: Stefan Postles via Getty Images.
