Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of yet another extraordinary day in Australian politics. Tony Abbott will face a party room debate on a motion to spill the leadership of the Liberal party at 9am this morning.
As is our habit, Mike Bowers has pictured the scene going on downstairs. In our brick parliament, here is the prime minister’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, giving final instructions to the candidate. ‘Be gracious. Be humble. Be the winner.’
The spill motion will be voted on without delay. We don’t anticipate speeches. The vote will be a secret ballot, which will enable front benchers to exercise a conscience vote even though there has been an enormous effort to bind them behind the current leadership team. How long the process goes from there depends whether or not the spill is a success.
Government MPs go into this morning’sspill vote consuming an absolute shocker of a Newspoll. As The Australian’s Phillip Hudson reports, the two party preferred figure is Coalition 43% and Labor 57% – the worst result since 2009.
Abbott’s satisfaction figures are solidly in the avert eyes territory. The poll indicates voters would prefer Malcolm Turnbull or Julie Bishop as prime minister. (As is often the case in polls, Turnbull is less popular with folks who identify as Coalition voters.) That noted, Turnbull leads as preferred leader over Abbott 64% to 25%. Bishop’s lead was 59% to 27%.
That might focus the odd mind. But this is politics. Evidence doesn’t always come into the equation. Speaking of evidence, I will try very hard to follow my usual form on this blog: I’ll try and avoid speculation and report what I know when I know it. I’ll respect you enough to think you can wait a few minutes rather than me being first to get it wrong.
The Politics Live comment thread is wide open for your business. Bowers and I can also be reached on the Twits @murpharoo @mpbowers
