This week the Guardian has brought you live coverage of one of the most spectacular weeks in Australian politics, as the Liberal party sought to topple yet another prime minister. Our readers have been active too, letting us know exactly what they thought of the parliamentary shenanigans. Here’s some of the best:
On Peter Dutton’s leadership bid ....
Dutton’s comments yesterday when he segued from immigration to Melbourne gangs frightening people really shows how shallow and frightening he is. How on earth can there be LNP members who will elect this man as their leader. Very frightening.
I was really worried about this until I was treated to Mr Dutton's winning smile on the tele last night.
On the same day Dutton seeks to lead our country, a child in detention and under his watch tries to commit suicide by setting herself alight. What have we come to?
On the infighting in the Liberal party ...
I think Australian politicians have realised that it's easier to gain Prime Ministership via a coup than by winning elections.
For sale. One church.
Quite broad, but some damage.
Needs thorough cleaning; bloodstains, tears, whitewash, coal dust, poisonous substances.
Could be made into dual occupancy. Should, in fact.
Offers?
Just want to take a moment to thank each and every Lib voter for bringing our nation to its knees, and making Australia an international joke.
Well done folks.
In the end,
it doesn't matter who becomes/remains prime minister.
The fact remains,
this particular incarnation of the Liberal party
remains the worst assembly of politicians to ever "serve" the Australian public.
Let’s take a moment’s silence
to ponder what’s been said
and offer our best wishes,
remembering the dead,
the once-proud, vibrant Party
that now has ceased to be,
so Libs…commiserations,
go well and RIP.
I am currently in the trauma ward suffering schadenfreude poisoning.
POPCORN is being war rationed ATM.
It’s official. Dining out in Melbourne is now safer than being a moderate Liberal.
On parliamentary chaos ...
Thank goodness the SSM postal survey was held and subsequent legislation was passed enabling many gay and lesbian couples to be legally married. This lurch to the right in the Liberals with either ScoMo or Dutton as PM would have resulted in them torching it. Sometimes the thing you don’t want is the best thing to have happened in retrospect.
It costs the taxpayer around two million dollars for each day that Parliament sits, just in the salaries alone for the MP's and their electoral staff, let alone Parliament staff attending. HOW DARE THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WASTE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS by shutting down Parliament today. This is the people's house, not the Liberal party's. What a bloody disgrace!
Let us hope we do not have a major crisis in the next two weeks. It is up to the states to now run the country as best they can. Disgusting, disgraceful.
"Labor are yelling abuse at the government."
Today they truly represent the people.
Highest record of homelessness, people on surgery waiting lists,drought,fire,refugees incarcerated and dying,mentally ill welfare recipients committing suicide, highest ever suicide rate in our first peoples and the government dissolves itself what a fucking joke, Australia in her time of Need and LNP says fuck you! Disgusting to watch , absolutely treacherous. GOVERNOR GENERAL WHERE ARE YOU !
The Liberal Party needs to stop taking selfies, turn the camera around and have a good look at the country. The Barrier Reef is dying, the farmlands are in drought and the middle and working classes are getting more and more squeezed. For the good of the country, both at home and in the region, call a bloody election.
So, hang on...
They've shut down shop for the month. We have a PM still since the spill never happened.
What we don't have is ministers for... well, damn near anything really!
How many ex PMs are, or will, Australians have to supporti now or in the future? The roll is - Hawke, Keating, Rudd, Gillard, Howard, Abbott, Turnbull (Dutton & Shorten?????). All these people get perks for the rest of their lives, 7 currently & maybe 9 in the near future. That's a long roll call in this small, exclusive and bloody expensive club.
So, hang on...
They've shut down shop for the month. We have a PM still since the spill never happened.
What we don't have is ministers for... well, damn near anything really!
Shutting Down Parliament during a sitting?
Not quite Burn the Reichstag but its getting there
I'm not into astrology, but have the planets aligned or something? It seems extraordinary things are happening now, not just here, but also with Trump in the US who people are now calling a crook.
Is this the beginning of the purge of dinosaurs we have been waiting for?
On Turnbull
Turnbull looking more statesmanlike than he has ever done during his leadership. And playing his cards very well. Identifying Dutton as the one who requested the adjournment. Pointing at the unnamed people outside parliament bullying and intimidating MPs to capitulate to the far right ... he has a future best selling book revealing all that. ABC now conveniently identifying News Corp, 2GB, Sky News ...
What a choice - gutless Turnbull or evil Dutton. C'mon Australia start voting for the best person in your seat and not the party leader, because they change at the drop of a hat!
Malcolm asking for the list of names is very interesting. It makes those who topple him accountable to the people, because their names will be know and their electorates will be able to protest vote at the next election against their candidate if they were one of the topplers who signed this letter. Apparently many LNP MPs are getting flooded with complaints in their own electorates at the toppling of another PM. Those on a thin margin would be very wary in signing a letter that shows them to be one of the conspirators. A very good tactic by Malcolm.
What Dutton doesn't realise is that he is the sacrificial lamb in all this. He'll be appointed PM but then be shafted having lost an election. Up stands Tony Abbott and says, "I was the most effective opposition leader in Australia's history. I'll lead you." Not sure I'll ever eat a souvlaki again.