NATIONALS leader Warren Truss has called on all federal government MPs to fall in behind Prime Minister Tony Abbott, warning the Coalition agreement would need to be renegotiated should leaders change.
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The Deputy Prime Minister said the Liberals’ leadership woes must “be resolved, and resolved quickly”, as speculation continues that a spill is imminent.
Mr Truss faced media at Wodonga’s Junction Place yesterday morning flanked by the full cohort of Nationals MPs, ahead of their first party room meeting for the year.
Both parties potentially have much to lose should the Liberal Party change leaders, with Mr Truss revealing the Coalition agreement is between himself and Mr Abbott.
“You’d have to have a different agreement obviously (if there were a change of leader) but at this stage I don’t think that’s an issue,” he said.
“It is an issue for the Liberal Party but I’ve made it absolutely clear that I’m happy to be working with Tony Abbott, I think he’s doing a good job and I’d like his leadership to continue.”
“I think it’s important that we are a strong and stable federal government and therefore the leadership issues are settled, and settled quickly.”
The Nationals are seen to have more in common with Mr Abbott than either of the two most-likely Liberal contenders, Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop.
Asked if he believed the party could work with Mr Turnbull or any other leadership candidates, Mr Truss said: “I don’t think there will be any other candidates. I think Tony Abbott is the leader, he should remain the leader and everyone should get in behind him.”
The Liberals hold 74 seats in the lower house, and the Nationals 15; Labor holds 56, with the remaining five held by independents and minor parties.
