Prime minister Tony Abbott has clung onto leadership, as the motion to spill the leadership was denied this morning.
MPs and senators voted 61-39 against a spill motion, effectively putting the leadership crisis to rest despite many tipping the motion would go ahead and see c communication’s minister Malcolm Turnbull get elected as party leader.
The dire state of the party’s unpopularity has not dissipated, as a new Newspoll this morning calculated that the Coalition trails Labor 43 per cent to 57 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Prime minister Tony Abbott made a statement to the media after he addressed the party room meeting, and said the leadership crisis is now quashed.
“Now this matter is behind us,” he said.
“We want to end the disunity and the uncertainty which destroyed two Labor Governments and give you the good government that you deserve.
“We think that when you elect a government, when you elect a Prime Minister, you deserve to keep that government and that Prime Minister until you have a chance to change your mind. So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation.”
Parliament has resumed today, with Mr Abbott saying it’s ‘business as usual’.