Background Turnbull Government

1 background

1.1 malcolm turnbull
1.2 turnbull challenges abbott

1.2.1 coalition agreement
1.2.2 challenge aftermath
1.2.3 turnbull s differences

background

malcolm turnbull

malcolm turnbull entered parliament member wentworth in 2004, , went on serve parliamentary secretary prime minister january 2006, , later minister environment , water resources in liberal-national coalition led prime minister john howard. before entering parliament, turnbull had worked journalist, barrister , merchant banker. headed australian republican movement, , had been active in failed yes campaign 1999 republic referendum.

the howard government defeated @ 2007 federal election australian labor party led kevin rudd. in aftermath, turnbull entered , lost in ensuing ballot liberal party leadership, won brendan nelson. turnbull served shadow treasurer, before toppling nelson in november 2008 liberal leadership spill.

the godwin grech affair undermined turnbull s authority, , amid extended poor polling, , disagreement within coalition on turnbull s support rudd government s climate change taxation policies, turnbull replaced leader of liberals tony abbott following 2009 leadership spill. coalition s position in polls improved leadership change, , abbott went on lead coalition 2010 federal election (which resulted in hung parliament) , win 2013 federal election, returning power after 6 years in opposition. turnbull served minister communications in abbott government, , oversaw national broadband rollout.

turnbull challenges abbott

the abbott government delivered election promises of removing industry taxes on mining , carbon emissions, , halting unauthorised boat arrivals, first budget s expenditure cuts , surprise revenue proposals met hostile reception in senate , media. monarchist abbott s decision knight duke of edinburgh brought heavy media criticism, , amid declining poll numbers coalition, rumours of intention republican malcolm turnbull challenge leadership continued. on 5 february, fairfax reported leadership speculation @ fever pitch after backbench senator arthur sinodinos (a demoted-minister) questioned abbott s judgement on sky news , refused confirm if prime minister still hold job in week s time. following day, abc s 7.30 reported tensions between prime minister , colleagues campaigning oust him heading showdown.

liberal mps don randall , luke simpkins called february 2015 spill motion spill leadership positions of party, though no contender. motion failed 61 39. abbott reportedly asked liberal caucus give him 6 months improve government s standing.

the abc reported in lead motion, abbott government had been facing leaks , growing media criticism . in months after failed spill motion, leaking , backgrounding against abbott continued, polling coalition improved. following second hockey budget in may 2015, newspoll placed abbott s approval rating @ eight-month high, , in front of opposition leader bill shorten better prime minister first time in 6 months.

final spill

on 14 september 2015, turnbull announced challenging abbott. turnbull cited extended poor polling abbott government , need new style of economic leadership reasons mounting challenge: have lost 30 newspolls in row. clear people have made mind mr abbott s leadership , said. in response, abbott said dismayed destabilisation s been taking place many, many months , australia needed strong , stable government , means avoiding, @ costs, labor s revolving-door prime ministership . september 2015 leadership spill called, turnbull challenging abbott, , winning 54 votes 44, , abbott supporter kevin andrews challenging julie bishop liberal deputy position losing 70–30.

coalition agreement

prior ballot, deputy prime minister, warren truss, noted in news conference coalition agreement between liberal party , nationals negotiated abbott , change in leader require renegotiated. political commentators stated senior nationals senators disliked way turnbull handled carbon reduction policy in 2009, other nationals being upset turnbull did not acknowledge nationals during first press conference prime minister-designate.

despite these tensions, nationals struck new coalition agreement turnbull on 15 september, shortly before turnbull sworn in prime minister. part of agreement, responsibility water transferred liberal greg hunt s environment portfolio nationals barnaby joyce s agriculture portfolio. nationals negotiated total of $4 billion worth of deals turnbull in exchange continued coalition agreement. received assurances turnbull maintain policy positions of abbott government in relation carbon pricing , in relation requiring plebiscite prior amendment marriage act recognise same-sex unions marriages under australian law.

challenge aftermath

turnbull dropped abbott, joe hockey, eric abetz, ian macfarlane, kevin andrews, michael ronaldson , bruce billson ministry, increased number of cabinet ministers 19 21. polling favourable turnbull following leadership change, coalition faced internal tensions. march 2016, labor , coalition 50–50 in newspoll results. in final address media prime minister, abbott expressed pride in record of government, warned against poll-driven political culture , unnamed media figures , politicians connive @ dishonour spreading anonymous, self-serving claims: febrile media culture has developed rewards treachery said.

in months following leadership change, coalition tensions remained. liberal party rank , file , backbench divisions emerged result of replacement of elected prime minister. immigration minister dutton excluded national security committee of cabinet, reportedly on tensions between himself , turnbull. in november, fairfax reported: simmering tensions on september leadership coup have flared amid revelations julie bishop s chief of staff attended meeting of liberal mps plotting against tony abbott on night before spill abetz , dutton called on bishop explain.

former ministers abetz , andrews expressed discontent @ government direction, while bruce billson announced retirement , ian macfarlane – support of deputy prime minister warren truss – attempted switch national party, move blocked liberals. hockey s seat of north sydney went by-election, saw 12.84% swing against liberal party.

abbott criticised leaders of effort bring him down, , promised no sniping in final speech prime minister. on 16 september, reported abbott intended stay in parliament. backbencher, abbott continued commentary on record of government , on world affairs, particularly in relation national security , challenge posed islamist terrorism. media critics accused abbott of sniping . in january 2016, abbott announced intention recontest seat of warringah @ next election. won seat 61.55% of vote.

turnbull s differences

on turnbull s oft-cited key policy differences, climate change, republicanism , same-sex marriage, wider policy generally, stated government continue follow same policies of abbott government. reflecting change in abbott government stance concerning australian honours system, on 2 november 2015, turnbull announced queen approved government s request amend order s letters patent , cease awards knights , dames in order of australia after cabinet agreed titles no longer appropriate in modern awards system.