‘We’re at a low ebb’: Tony Abbott bashes Liberal leadership in leaked audio – The Sydney Morning Herald

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has used a guest appearance at a branch meeting in the electorate of Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar to bash Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's second budget and call on members to rise up against the Liberal Party's direction.

Play Video Don't Play

Play Video Don't Play

Previous slide Next slide

In leaked audio obtained by Fairfax, the former PM this time criticises the government's budget and says the Liberal Party is at a 'low ebb'.

Play Video Don't Play

The Northern Football League has ended the playing career of AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour, handing him a lifetime ban effective immediately.

Play Video Don't Play

Australia's dark history of mass killings has been catalogued by the University of Newcastle, showing the prevalence of massacres in our own backyard

Play Video Don't Play

New health research finds over the last two decades portion size increases has been going up at the same time as obesity rates.

Play Video Don't Play

Hawthorn recruit Tyrone Vickery and former Richmond hardman Jake King have been arrested for alleged extortion and threats. Vision courtesy Seven News, Melbourne.

Play Video Don't Play

Ben Wyatt was last seen at Black Rock and now his family, desperate to find their son, are hoping a possible sighting in Cheltenham on Wednesday morning will lead to clues. Vision courtesy Seven News, Melbourne.

Play Video Don't Play

The death of Paul Costa is now the subject of a homicide investigation after his body was found in a Brunswick West reserve. Vision courtesy Seven News, Melbourne.

Play Video Don't Play

The "con" of building resilience has left junior doctors vulnerable to mental illness and suicide by ignoring the systemic failures of the medical profession.

In leaked audio obtained by Fairfax, the former PM this time criticises the government's budget and says the Liberal Party is at a 'low ebb'.

Fairfax Mediahas obtained audio of Mr Abbott's speech to conservative Liberals on Monday night, in which he asserted Turnbull government ministers did not believe in the "second-best, taxing and spending" budget they had been forced to deliver.

Mr Abbott said the Liberal Party needed help "so that we can be what we really are", and said Australians had for too long tolerated those who did not share the fundamentalGod-given values that underpinned Western civilisation.

"Just at this moment, let me tell you, we're at a bit of a low ebb," he told the meeting in the Melbourne seat of Deakin..

"If you listen to some senior members of the government, because of the reality - the unfortunate reality - of the Senate, we have had to bring forward a budget which is second-best. A taxing and spending budget.

"Not because we believe in these things, but because the Senate made us do it. Well, a party that has to do what's second-best because the Senate made us do it is a party which needs some help."

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

Facing questions from members eager for him to return to the prime ministership, Mr Abbott said that, as a conservative, "your first duty is to improve the existing situation" rather than change it drastically.

"Our first responsibility is to fight so that the existing government, the existing cabinet and the existing prime ministerare as good as they possibly can be," he said.

"One of the reasons why I'm speaking out is not because I think we've got to change the personnelbut because I think we've got to just move the direction a little bit.

"And if we can't, because of the Senate, entirely change the directionat least don't lose the sense of what the bloody direction should be, for God's sake.

"You can't always determine the speed of the advance, but by God we should be able to determine the direction of the advance. We shouldn't let the Senate go the wrong way, even if it is trying to stop us from going very far in the right direction."

Mr Abbott was invited to address Monday night's branch meeting in the electorate of Mr Sukkar, who played a significant role in putting together the May budget.

Branch members were invited to "a rare opportunity to join former prime minister Tony Abbottto discuss how to navigate the political sphere as a Christian and ensure legislation supports family values".

The event was organised in conjunction with Mr Sukkarand respected HIV specialistDr Ivan Stratov, a recent defector from the Family First party and convert to Mormonism.

A Liberal Party source who attended Monday night'smeeting said the audience of about 200 was "basically in raptures" at the end of Mr Abbott's presentation.

"He is definitely on the war path," the source said. "I have never seen him speaking so well or looking so good."

Mr Abbott began his address by imploring members to heed the "two fundamental precepts" of Western civilisation, "both of which stem originally from the Gospel". Those were equality in the eyes of God ("equal rights, equal dignity, equal responsibilities"), and treating others as you would have them treat you.

He also warned that, "for too long, the good people of our country have been too tolerant of people who do not share some of the fundamental values that have made us who we are".

"As Michael [Sukkar] said a few moments ago, a majority that stays silent does not stay a majority," Mr Abbott said.

Asked about the environment, he said "politics has got in the way of common sense" and that climate change should not take precedence over living standards, national security or matters of deprivation and justice.

"Yes it's an issue, but if it comes to a choice between your job and reducing emissions, I choose your job every time," he said to applause.

Mr Abbott was also asked about the United Nations' Agenda 21 sustainable development plan, derided by some nationalists and conspiracy theorists as a ployfor global government.

While he defended the globalised economy, he said: "There are a lot of people out there who worry about countries like Australia surrendering their sovereignty and losing, effectively,some of our independence.And I think this a real worry."

Mr Abbott has made a string of appearances at think tanks, in the media and at party functions in the past week, stirring internal ructions and condemnation from ministers and MPs. He reflected on the criticism in his speech.

"Just at the moment, I'm not always the person that every Liberal wants to associate with," Mr Abbott said, to laughter.

"But Michael [Sukkar] is someone who knows what he believes, he knows who his friends are, and he sticks by them through thick and thin. That's someone you can rely on."

Mr Sukkar on Tuesday defended Mr Abbott's attendance of the branch meeting, saying it was a long-standing commitment and one that had engaged his branch members.

He told Sky News he was"very proud" of the budget handed down in May and said the Turnbull government had got the major policy settingsright.

"It's a very routine branch meeting," Mr Sukkar said. "He certainly gave the government credit where it's due. I don't think there was anything that was a particularly tough critique."

Follow us on Facebook

Follow this link:

'We're at a low ebb': Tony Abbott bashes Liberal leadership in leaked audio - The Sydney Morning Herald