Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has been forced to defend suggestions he was “weak and treacherous” in the political knifing of Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull levelled the accusations against Senator Cormann in a private text message exchange during the leadership coup 18 months ago.
The correspondence is expected to be published in Mr Turnbull’s autobiography, which will come out in April.
Senator Cormann played a central role in the Liberal leadership coup after switching allegiances to Peter Dutton.
“It is ancient history. I stand by my actions that week,” the minister told ABC radio on Monday.
“Malcolm took me by complete surprise when he brought on a surprise leadership ballot on the Tuesday. I was not part of any planned insurgency or planned conspiracy or planned spill that week.
“Malcolm brought on that leadership ballot. After he did that and given the result of that particular ballot, the rest of us had to deal with the consequences.”
Senator Cormann disputed claims Mr Turnbull would have retained the leadership, had he not switched sides
“I completely disagree with you,” he said.
“I happen to believe that Malcolm Turnbull’s position at that time had become irretrievable and that he had lost the confidence of the party room.
“That if we did not resolve the matter properly and with certainty, appropriate certainty, that week that the position of the government would become irretrievable. That remains my judgment.”
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Senator Cormann said it would have been weak of him to run away from dealing with the issue.
“This issue had to be dealt with in the interests of the country, the government and the Liberal Party. We dealt with it,” he said.
“The Australian people at the election clearly endorsed the judgments that we made.”
Meanwhile, former South Australian premier John Olsen has received a personal recommendation from Scott Morrison to become the new federal president of the Liberal Party.
Mr Olsen, 74, was premier from 1996 to 2001 and a Liberal senator in the early 1990s.
He is expected to replace former NSW premier Nick Greiner, who has held the Liberal presidency since 2017 and has said this year will be his last in the role.
– AAP
The post Mathias Cormann spurns ‘weak and treacherous’ jibe appeared first on The New Daily.
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