WA Lib breaks cover on Abbott
A WA Liberal MP has broken cover to declare he has lost confidence in Tony Abbott and may trigger a leadership spill next week.
Tangney MHR Dennis Jensen said the Prime Minister was "terminal" and needed to be replaced to prevent the coalition becoming a one-term Government.
Dr Jensen formally withdrew his support for Mr Abbott late last month, informing the PM by text message.
"I'm concerned that the sound pressure waves hit your eardrums but the content doesn't seem to get through," he texted on January 23.
Dr Jensen told _The West Australian _yesterday that Mr Abbott had to go as leader.
"In my view, yes. The sooner the better, from my perspective. I think he is terminal," he said.
The WA MP, who helped bring down Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader in 2009 by co-sponsoring a spill motion with fellow WA Liberal Wilson Tuckey, did not rule out doing it again.
"I wouldn't like to again," Dr Jensen said. "I really hope someone else does because otherwise I just look like a bloody assassin."
Liberal MPs and senators meet for their first partyroom meeting of the year on Tuesday. While several MPs yesterday called for calm, demanding an end to sniping, MPs and ministers alike said the meeting loomed as D-day for Mr Abbott.
Dr Jensen said he would prefer Scott Morrison over Mr Turnbull as the leader but if Julie Bishop were a candidate, he would have to think about it closely.
"The situation at the moment is untenable," he said.
"We can't do a lot worse at the moment. We are going backwards and for Tony just to get to a neutral position again is an almost impossible ask."
Dr Jensen said he did not say this lightly, revealing he had also texted the PM before Christmas to register his belief the Government was in serious trouble.
Ms Bishop yesterday told Cabinet colleagues she would not challenge Mr Abbott and denied campaigning for the PM job, ringing the backbench or "counting any numbers".
"I have been the deputy for seven years and I've not before and I will not challenge the leader," Ms Bishop told _The West Australian _. "And as I've said repeatedly, I support the leader."
Liberals say Ms Bishop and Mr Turnbull could be drafted once a spill is triggered, without the need for a declared challenge. The Right would push Mr Morrison or Andrew Robb to contest.
Sky News reported yesterday that Mr Abbott on Sunday demanded Ms Bishop guarantee she would not challenge him and that she declined.
As _The West Australian _reported on Monday, Liberal MPs have been urging Ms Bishop to tell the PM he had lost their confidence.
