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Election 2016: Tony Abbott not expecting 'advancement' in cabinet if Coalition wins, page-7

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03/06/16

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Originally posted by footy ↑

Election 2016: Tony Abbott not expecting 'advancement' in cabinet if Coalition wins

Tony Abbott says he is not seeking or expecting "advancement" into Malcolm Turnbull's cabinet if the Coalition is returned at the election and is promising to "stand up for good, Liberal conservative positions" including on same-sex marriage in the next term.
In an extended interview with The Conversation's Michelle Grattan, the former prime minister expressed hope of campaigning for Sophie Mirabella, with whom he controversially stood in front of a sign calling Julia Gillard a witch.

Mr Abbott confirmed he would not be campaigning for the seat of Lindsay, which his seat of Warringah traditionally supports, amid suspicions the sitting member Fiona Scott, who he infamously described as having "sex appeal", backed Malcolm Turnbull in the leadership spill.
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He confided that the last 12 months, in which he faced a spill motion and the successful coup, had "strained some relationships," including with his former friend of 20-years Bronwyn Bishop.

Revealing he had not spoken to her since she lost preselection, he said he hoped their friendship, which broke down when he sacked her after her grandiose use of taxpayer entitlements was revealed, would one-day resume.

"I would certainly like to think that at some point in the future the long friendship could be resumed," he said.
"The difficulty with the things that have happened over the last 12 months is that a number of relationships have been strained," he said.
He vowed to serve out a full-term as the member for Warringah and questioned whether the independent candidate running against him, former Australian Idol host James Mathieson, could carry out the job of an MP.

" I can remember watching Australian Idol a few years ago and really enjoying the program, but there's a world of difference between hosting a TV program and being a strong and effective member of parliament," he said.
Promising to be "as useful as I can" in the next term, he did not rule out seeking to become the notional leader of the conservatives in the party.
" I want to be as useful as I can be and that will mean standing up for what I think are good Liberal, conservative positions," he said.
He said he would put "in appropriate ways" his opposition to same-sex marriage ahead of a plebiscite, potentially before the end of the year.
Critically, he said he would respect a yes vote, unlike other conservatives, including dumped Cabinet Minister Eric Abetz who has said he will vote according to his conscience even if the public overwhelmingly endorses change.
Asked if he would like to return to the frontbench, Mr Abbott said that was a matter for the Prime Minister.
" I'm not asking for advancement, I'm not expecting advancement, I am running to be the member for Warringah," he said.
"I'm very happy to be the member for Warringah, should I be returned. There are all sorts of things I can do as the member for Warringah which I think will be a useful contribution to the next parliament."
He stressed that the "Abbott-era" was over and said he could not imagine last year's "decisive vote" would be revisited next term.
He said he has been talking to Liberal candidate Sophie Mirabella about how he can help her bid to make a comeback in the seat of Indi, where she was ousted in a shock result by the independent Cathy McGowan last election.
But he said any decision about whether he would campaign there was "really up to the campaign team in Indi but certainly I have a lot of time for Sophie Mirabella".
Before his removal as prime minister, Liberal sources frequently cited Mr Abbott's toxicity in the state of Victoria, which is considered to be a more progressive state compared to Queensland or Western Australia.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/election-2016-tony-abbott-vows-to-be-useful-and-stand-up-for-conservative-positions-next-term-20160602-gpagnk.html#ixzz4ASs4FP5z
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Fac

THE HONOURABLE ACHIEVING FORMER PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT, WAS BY FAR THE BETTER PRIME MINISTER SINCE JOHN HOWARD.

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