Liberals' 'faceless men' drawn from the shadows

The ”faceless men (and women)” of the parliamentary Liberal party are being drawn out of the shadows in the wake of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s successful coup for his old boss’s job.

While Deputy Leader Julie Bishop has already admitted to her role as triggerman in bringing down former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, reports are now emerging that claim to reveal the other conspirators who helped lay the groundwork for Monday's challenge.

Ms Bishop was key to the success of the challenge and has reportedly built a close relationship with Mr Turnbull in the months following the last attempt to remove Mr Abbott from his job in February.

News Corp reports she was joined by Education Minister Christopher Pyne who is believed to have become concerned about the government’s "toxic" standing in his home state of South Australia.

Parliamentary secretary and South Australian senator Simon Birmingham has also been implicated in the plot with reports indicating he and Mitch Fifield had been charged with helping to recruit the 54 Liberal members who voted against Mr Abbott.

There has also been unconfirmed speculation that other South Australian MPs had also abandoned their support for Mr Abbott in the face of continued poor polling at home.

South Australian Senator Corey Bernardi was obviously not among them though. He has since called the moves to install Mr Turnbull "treachery".

Senator Arthur Sinodinos – who served as chief of staff for the Prime Minister in the Howard Government – as well as MP Paul McGrath and Senator James Fletcher have also been linked to the coup, which was in the making for at least a fortnight before Mr Turnbull showed his cards on Monday afternoon.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan has also been outted as a key player in the Turnbull camp.

Despite the reports, only Ms Bishop has owned up to her role the pre-challenge machinations.

“I was deeply concerned with the despair in the party room," she told Sunrise on Tuesday.

"I was concerned by the fact that the Prime Minister had asked for six months to turn things around and that had not occurred.

“I became aware over recent days that a majority of the party room had lost confidence in Tony’s leadership."
Reports have also emerged that Education Minister Christopher Pyne will be promoted to the defense portfolio in place of Abbott-supporter Kevin Andrews in coming days.

Mr Pyne has not yet publically confirmed who he voted for in Monday’s nights leadership ballot but earlier that day had responded to an Opposition question in Parliament asking Mr Abbott to name his supporters by saying, “I’m one”

While there is no suggestion he was involved in the tactical manaurvring in the lead up to Monday’s spill, Assistant Defence Minister and Gold Coast MP Stuart Robert has come clean about his decision to turn on his friend and ally Tony Abbott.

"Politics is not about friendship — it’s about capacity and confidence,” Mr Robert told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“Those are the rules of the game and we all know them when we enter politics.

“Tony was devastated. I was also devastated but the national interest was fundamental.”

Mr Turnbull won Monday's Liberal party room ballot by 54 votes to 44. The vote came after another spill motion against Mr Abbott in February, which saw 39 MPs vote against his leadership despite no challenger nominating for his position.

Morning news break – September 15