“Dutton exaggerated his support and fooled too many of his colleagues and some in the media. His tactics brought government to a halt. Rather than clearing the air, his ambition choked the Parliament. The stench will linger within the Liberal Party for some time.”
“Those who did the numbers for Dutton, such as Victorian conservative Michael Sukkar and ACT Senator Zed Seselja, heavied their way through the party room to force colleagues to sign up ... “Their reputations have been shredded this week,” says one MP ... Some Liberals were offered inducements like ministries while others were threatened with punishment if they held out, with the clear threat that preselections could be at risk.”
“No policy visions were put forward to justify this crisis. More than anything, this was an exercise in vindictive payback. Among the losers are those who were bent on vengeance against Turnbull, not least of them Tony Abbott.”
“The outcome on Friday proved, as if anyone needed it, that the Liberals can only prosper if the arch-conservatives give up the delusion that they are the future of the party.”
