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Articles on Liberal leadership crisis

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Ideally, the cabinet should include four of the seven types of leaders - and only two of those make effective prime ministers. AAP/Lukas Coch

The real leadership challenge: only six Liberals are suitable to be PM

Analysis of the mindsets and responses of thousands of senior leaders tells us only about 7% are likely to have the right stuff to lead effective government responses to wicked problems.
The National Civic Council, a Christian lobby group, orchestrated a massive email campaign before the spill motion to pressure MPs to support Tony Abbott’s leadership. AAP/Jane Dempster

Cabinet committee favoured foreign construction of subs: Four Corners

Cabinet’s national security committee last October favoured Australia’s new submarine fleet being mostly constructed overseas with the ASC having only limited work.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s fortunes from now on will swing from poll to poll. AAP/Lukas Coch

Living by the polls will be Abbott’s fate from now on

The cameras were in the cabinet room on Monday, apparently so the TV stations could get footage of the new line-up after last year’s reshuffle. But Tony Abbott also wanted to get a message out – one he’s…
Having Julie Bishop potentially in a leadership field imposes a restraint because of the uncertainty of the result. AAP/Ross Setford

Abbott gets poll help as Bishop complicates leadership question

As Liberal MPs gather for more testing days in parliament, a Fairfax/Ipsos poll showing improvement in the ratings of both the Coalition and the prime minister should help Tony Abbott fireproof himself…

VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on Abbott’s leadership

University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics including the New South Wales state election, if Tony Abbott is likely to be replaced and who would gain from a leadership transition to Malcolm Turnbull.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott confers with his chief of staff, Peta Credlin, during question time. AAP/Lukas Coch

Why Credlin is seen to have gone too far as PM’s right-hand woman

Peta Credlin is in the classic “double bind” of all women in power: if they take charge, they transgress the gendered expectations that “female qualities” are best suited to a supporting role.
Tony Abbott still seems to be going backwards after heading off last week’s backbench attempt to get a spill. AAP/Nikki Short

Abbott set to ramp up national security armoury

Embattled on most fronts, Tony Abbott is switching attention to national security, with a statement on Monday week foreshadowing tougher measures. In Sunday’s weekly video, the prime minister stepped up…
Joe Hockey’s 2012 ‘age of entitlement’ speech was unusually candid, but as treasurer he has shied away from tackling the tax perks that burden the budget. AAP/Lukas Coch

Calls for clear political narratives ultimately demand greater honesty

Whenever an Australian government runs into trouble we hear calls for a clearer narrative. The latest contribution comes in a thoughtful article from Waleed Aly. Aly points to the similar undermining of…
Tony Abbott is offering logical evidence and emotional appeals, but the rhetorical problem is his own loss of credibility and authority. AAP/Mick Tsikas

The prime ministerial promise to change: can it work?

“Is it me?” That was the question John Howard reportedly asked his cabinet colleagues as his government remained stubbornly behind in the polls in 2007. One of those colleagues, Tony Abbott, now confronts…
In the battles within the government between now and May, Treasurer Joe Hockey will lack the degree of authority he could deploy a year ago. AAP/Lukas Coch

Hockey on the ropes: ‘I am doing the heavy lifting for my country’

The Liberals have drawn a line under the leadership issue for the moment, but this week’s unsuccessful spill motion has changed fundamentally the dynamics within the government and the party. Malcolm Turnbull…
AAP/Nikki Short

Don’t blame the media, Malcolm

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier this week linked the Liberals’ leadership crisis to “bullying” by journalists covering Australian politics. He was not suggesting, I don’t think, that the…

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