Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, fighting for his political life, said he would bring forward to Monday a meeting of his ruling party to consider a challenge to his leadership in an effort to halt a destabilising internal revolt.
A member of Abbott’s conservative Liberal Party called on Friday for a secret ballot to decide whether to declare the leadership and deputy leadership positions vacant, to be held at a scheduled meeting on Tuesday.
However, Abbott said the meeting would be brought forward by a day.
“It is important to end the uncertainty at the very beginning of the parliamentary sitting week,” Abbott said in a brief statement yesterday.
Seeking to shore up support among lawmakers, Abbott reportedly promised to hold an open tender to replace the country’s ageing Collins-class submarines, reversing a decision that would likely have barred state-owned shipbuilder ASC Ltd from competing. Japan has been the frontrunner to win the contract, valued at up to A$40 billion ($31 billion).
“I’m very pleased with the decision of the Prime Minister and when he rang me today with this very good news,” said South Australian Senator Sean Edwards, who had made his support for Abbott contingent on an open tender.
No member of the government has so far indicated a direct challenge to Abbott, although most attention has focused on Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a former party leader toppled by Abbott.
Turnbull, a millionaire lawyer and former investment banker, has not yet said he will challenge Abbott directly but yesterday he gave the strongest indication yet he would run.
“If for whatever reason, the leadership of a political party is vacant, then any member of the party can stand ... without any disloyalty,” Turnbull told reporters outside a party fund-raising function in Sydney.
