'Far too easy to change leaders': Liberals urge rule changes to stop turmoil

Liberal MP John Alexander has revealed he urged Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull to change leadership rules to prevent prime ministerial musical chairs.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison (right) walk to the House of Representatives.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison (right) walk to the House of Representatives. Source: AAP

Liberal MPs are urging the party to overhaul its rules to slam shut the revolving door in the prime minister's office.

Former tennis star and Bennelong MP John Alexander has revealed he put forward a proposal to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his predecessor Tony Abbott to change Liberal leadership rules.

"It didn't go anywhere and we are now committing another act of self-harm greater than the last," Mr Alexander told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
He spoke out before an expected party room meeting where Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison and Julie Bishop are set to vie to replace Mr Turnbull.

Mr Alexander wants the victor to change Liberal rules to ensure a sitting prime minister serves a full term and then seeks the confidence of the party room before calling an election.

"A good tennis player, when they lose and make mistakes, they learn from them and try not to do it again," the 1977 Davis Cup winner said.

"I could only hope what we've endured in the last the week we learn this most bitter lesson."
Liberal MP Melissa Price.
Liberal MP Melissa Price. Source: AAP
Fellow Turnbull backer and WA Liberal Melissa Price has called for the party to adopt Labor-style rules to end leadership turmoil.

Labor introduced a process after the toppling of Julia Gillard by Kevin Rudd in 2013 in which leadership contenders must gain a majority of votes in the caucus and in a grassroots party ballot to take the top job.

Asked if the Liberals should do the same, Ms Price said: "I think we're at that point.

"I think in politics, especially in the Liberal party, it is far too easy to change the leader. I think we have to have a look at our processes," she told ABC radio.

Queensland MP Scott Buchholz wants a mechanism to prevent the leadership tension that has thrown the government into crisis.

"Our system is broken. It's time for a review," he told reporters.



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Published 24 August 2018 7:58am
Updated 24 August 2018 11:28am


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