'No wrecking, no sniping' Abbott pledges
Outgoing Prime Minister Tony Abbott has finally re-emerged for the first time since responding to Malcolm Turnbull’s declaration of a challenge to his leadership.
Mr Abbott, who came to office off the back of a landslide election in 2013, today promised to go quietly into the night, saying there would be ‘no wrecking’ and ‘no sniping’ against the new Turnbull Government.
"I've never leaked or backgrounded against anyone and I certainly won't start now,” Mr Abbott said.
But some are already seeing that statement as a veiled jab at the conspirators who undid his Prime Ministership just days before its second anniversary.
Mr Abbott also used his speech to take aim at the Australian media, which he accused of having developed a 'febrile' culture.
In a statement reminiscent of former foe Julia Gillard's infamous "don't print crap" statement, Mr Abbott took aim at "self-serving" media commentary.
“The nature of politics has changed in the past decade. We have more polls and more commentary than ever before. Mostly sour, bitter, character assassinations,” he said.
Mr Abbott said his chief of staff Peta Credlin had been unfairly targeted during the simmering tensions that plagued his leadership for most of 2015.
He said who she had "been unfairly maligned by people that should have known better.”
"Poll panic" had gripped Australia's political parties, he said leading to the revolving door of leadership which has seen five changes of prime minister in almost as many years.
Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra that he remained proud of his achievements as Prime Minister and those of his government.
"The boats have stopped and with the boats stopped we have been better able to demonstrate our compassion to refugees," he said.
"I've held true to what I've believed and I'm proud of what we've achieved over the past two years. Three hundred thousand more people are in jobs.
"Labor's bad taxes are gone. We've signed Free Trade Agreements with our largest trading partners, with Japan, with Korea and with China. The biggest infrastructure program in our country's history is under way."
He finished his speech with a prayer, and thanked the Australian people for his opportunity to serve.
What Mr Abbott did not say may now lead to more speculation that his promise to go quietly may not be the end of the story though.
During the speech he gave no indication of his future plans, suggesting he may now linger on the backbench as Kevin Rudd did after being ousted by Ms Gillard.
Morning news break – September 15
