Tony Abbott leaves the partyroom on September 14, having lost the Liberal leadership and prime ministership to Malcolm Turnbull. AAP/Sam MooyThe year started as it finished, with terrorist atrocities, intractable conflicts and political upheavals that toppled several leaders. Among them was Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott.
In January, two months after a first-term Coalition government fell in Victoria, Queensland’s Liberal-National government suffered the same fate. Nine days later came a federal partyroom revolt, but Abbott and his high-profile chief-of-staff, Peta Credlin, survived the “near-death experience” (and Prince Philip kept his knighthood regardless).
Only NSW Premier Mike Baird seemed immune to voter dissatisfaction. …read more
Source: The Conversation