The Northern Territory news Wed 22 Aug 2018
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2018-08-22
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Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/301480
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/368561
12 NATIONAL WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22 2018 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Joyce weighs in on row THE Prime Minister has found an unlikely supporter in his former deputy with Barnaby Joyce confirming he called Malcolm Turnbull after yesterdays failed challenge. The Nationals MP said he doesnt agree with changing prime ministers. He also expressed his concerns for the Coalitions future if there was another challenge. The backbencher said he offered help to the embattled Mr Turnbull but denied he did so to secure a return to Cabinet: What I said Ill keep to myself but I try to be constructive you dont dwell on the bad things, you deal with these issues and move on, and get on. Pyne backs status quo DEFENCE Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has described the relentless cycle of leadership rolling as an infectious disease which has infected the Australian polity since 2007. Mr Pyne made the comment on Miranda Live yesterday as he confirmed that he endorsed Malcolm Turnbull during the leadership vote. I voted for Malcolm Turnbull because hes the Prime Minister, and because I think hes the best person to lead us to the election. I think the public would be aghast if we changed the Prime Minister again without an election, it is an infectious disease which has infected the Australian polity.Barnaby Joyce Christopher Pyne in Canberra Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday Picture: LUKAS COCH ITS in the best interests of the Northern Territory for Malcolm Turnbull to remain prime minister until the next election, according to Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Mr Turnbull narrowly saw off a challenge from Peter Dutton yesterday morning but another is expected shortly. Mr Gunner said every day federal parliamentarians spent focused on leadership speculation was a day they werent focused on governing. For me the priority has to always be Territorians and the priority has to always be Australians, he said. Mr Gunner likened the current leadership shenanigans to the distracting coups under the former CLP government. Mr Gunner said Territorians suffered during that time. Im worried about whats going on in Canberra because attentions being taken away from Australians and delivering for Australians, he said. Mr Turnbull has made several trips to the NT in recent months and is the first prime minister to ever visit Tennant Political Reporter MALCOLM Turnbull may have claimed victory in Peter Duttons leadership challenge, but could face another contest within weeks, with almost half of his MPs wanting him gone. The Prime Minister is urging unity in the party after narrowly defeating ex-home affairs minister Mr Dutton in a Liberal leadership spill. Treasurer Scott Morrison will be acting home affairs minister for now, with a ministry reshuffle to come. Julie Bishop was re-elected unopposed as deputy Liberal leader and ruled out challenging Mr Turnbull for the leadership. Some Liberal MPs believe Mr Duttons failed challenge is the beginning of the end of Mr Turnbulls prime ministership, and there may be another leadership ballot later this week or when Parliament comes back in September. The dead man walking is sitting down the front, but he doesnt have the numbers, veteran Labor MP Jenny Macklin said in Parliament. Mr Dutton started talking about his lighter side immediately after resigning from Cabinet, and said his public portrayal as a hard man came with the immigration job. Mr Turnbull called the spill after a week of leadership speculation sparked by Liberals angry with his National Energy Guarantee. PM seeking unity after leadership challenge Shorten votes no confidence in Government LABOR Leader Bill Shorten has sought to move a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. This House should vote for no confidence because the Prime Minister has no authority, no power, and no policies, Mr Shorten told Parliament yesterday, after Mr Turnbull had earlier survived a Liberal leadership spill. Mr Shorten gave four reasons for supporting the motion: a lack of support in the Liberal party room, the failure of the Governments energy policy, the Prime Ministers surrendering of belief to conservatives in his ranks and a lack of focus on fundamental issues of importance to the Australian people. I say to Australians who were shocked by the turmoil in this Government, it is not over until the member for Dickson (Mr Dutton) has the scalp of the Prime Minister hanging from his belt, Mr Shorten said. Mr Turnbull responded with attacks on Mr Shortens record as a union leader, accusing him of doing secret deals with employers to sell out cleaners on penalty rates. He also detailed the record job growth under the Coalition, with Australia having stronger economic growth than any G7 country. We are standing up for Australian families the Australian workers that the Leader of the Opposition abandoned in his union career and now abandoned in this Chamber, Mr Turnbull told Parliament. Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Mr Turnbull led a Frankensteins monster of a government. It has the face of the member for Wentworth (Mr Turnbull), the policies of the member for Warringah (Tony Abbott), and it has the cold, shrivelled soul of the member for Dickson (Mr Dutton), Ms Plibersek said. Turnbull best bet for NT: Gunner Creek. Mr Gunner said having a prime minister engaged in Territory issues was a valuable asset. Bringing another up to speed would cause unnecessary delays. I would like to know with confidence exactly who Im working for in Canberra and more importantly that all the parliamentarians in Canberra are actually thinking about Australians first and I dont think thats the case right now, Mr Gunner said. Mr Turnbull won the ballot 48-35, but the episode seriously undermined his position. It is really important that we put these differences behind us and get on with our job of looking after the 25 million Australians who have put us here, he said afterwards. We know that disunity undermines the ability of any government to get its job done, and unity is absolutely critical. Mr Dutton, who has moved to the backbench after resigning from his role as home affairs minister, refused to rule out another tilt at the top job, saying he made his move in the belief that he had the best chance of steering the party to an election victory. What is my next step, what is my job from here? My job is to make sure I can prosecute the sort of messages I spoke about, he said. HAYLEY SORENSEN hayley.sorensen@news.com.au