Just days after Tony Abbott became leader of Australia's centre right opposition in controversial circumstances, his party has won two federal by-elections, caused by the retirement of two senior members of his own party. The Sydney Morning Herald described the twin victories as "comfortable": "Just days after Mr Abbott won the Liberal leadership from Malcolm […]
Five update observations on our sister party in Australia, the Liberal Party: Current opinion polls suggest that Kevin Rudd will gain seats if he calls an election. The Liberal Leader Malcolm Turnbull is seen by only 19% of Australians as best choice to be PM. That compares to 66% for the incumbent Prime Minister Kevin […]
Tom Switzer, former adviser to Australian Liberal leader Brendan Nelson, has written for The Spectator’s new Australia blog about the tensions within his party about green policies: "Whereas once both leaders [Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull] were calling on Australians to pay higher energy prices to save the planet, they now warn of tougher economic […]
Within one hour of Brendan Nelson becoming John Howard’s successor, 292 days ago, Malcolm Turnbull had, blogs Samantha Maiden, "stormed into the new Liberal leader’s parliamentary office… tearing into Nelson over his “funereal speech” and urging him to toughen up." Mr Nelson was never allowed another moment’s peace and quiet during his turbulent tenure as […]
The Australian Liberals finally won some serious power yesterday when the Nationals agreed to form a coalition with them in the prosperous state of Western Australia. Labor in WA called an early election and it has backfired spectacularly on them. But the real breaking news from downunder is the national Liberal leader’s decision to call […]
Australian Liberal leader Brendan Nelson was in London on Thursday and Friday. His time in the UK included meetings with Australian business representatives, the Bank of England and Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague. Questioned by this website Mr Nelson said that he had "looked closely" at David Cameron’s leadership of the UK Conservative Party and […]