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Tony Abbott new PM by Wednesday?

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 30 August, 2010 - 10:06 AM

Neil Mitchell on his 'inside tip' on Tony Abbott

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has again been embarrassed by members of his team as delicate negotiations continue with the three independents.

It's believed Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan phoned the home of independent Rob Oakeshott on the weekend and said he was the devil.

Mr Oakeshott is one of three independents deciding whether Labor or the Coalition should form the next government.

He says Mr Abbott must deal with these distractions.

3AW Radio host Neil Mitchell says he's recieved an inside tip Tony Abbott could be Prime Minister of Australia as soon as Wednesday.

Mitchell also discusses the way things are getting out of hand as power appears to be getting to certain MPs' heads.

AAP WIRE: The Nationals are meeting in Canberra as negotiations with independent MPs intensify in the nation's capital.

Nationals leader Warren Truss on Monday will lead his expanded team in the party's first meeting since the election.

Nationals MPs are pushing for a fair deal for regional people across the nation, not just in the seats of independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter.

Mr Oakeshott has accused the Nationals of running a smear campaign against him, but Mr Truss hosed down the claims on Monday.

Both Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor have questioned the coalition's tactics as both the Liberals and Labor try to broker a deal with the independents to form government.

Mr Oakeshott wants a "please explain" from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott about whether a phone call from an unnamed Liberal, who told his wife it was "the devil" calling, is part of a broader strategy to pressure him.

"If these are Rambo-style phone calls that I'm receiving from loose cannons, that's fine," Mr Oakeshott told ABC Radio on Monday.

"But what is of deeper concern is, is this a strategic move to try and destabilise this whole process?

"If that is the game, that needs to be flushed out early."

It follows reports Liberal backbencher Alby Schultz phoned and abused Mr Windsor, telling him to back the coalition in forming government.

The three independent MPs are former Nationals.

Nationals senator John Williams said his constituents deserved the same sweeteners the independents were demanding for their electorates.

"They (the Nationals MPs) are not going to sacrifice funding for projects in their electorates to simply to be put into (the) independents' electorates," Senator Williams told ABC Radio on Monday.

WA Nationals MP Tony Crook, who won the seat of O'Connor from veteran Liberal member Wilson Tuckey, will also join the partyroom meeting.

Mr Crook has refused to rule out sitting on the cross benches because of tensions between the WA Nationals and their federal counterparts.

The newly elected MP is pushing for the major parties to match the state's royalties program and pour millions of federal money into regional WA.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has ruled out Mr Crook's early demand to drop the minerals resource rent tax, killing any chance that he will back Labor.

But he has continued to play hardball with the Liberals, saying he is not prepared to sit in the coalition partyroom.

Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt will also venture to the capital to push their cases with Ms Gillard.

'Three Amigos' not that independent?

HINCH BLOG: "The triumvirate exercising political muscle beyond their wildest dreams to decide not only who will run the Government for the next three years but what sort of government they will run?" Read more and have your say by clicking the image on the right.

Blog comments

Voting for a smaller party or an independent is one of the few major protests we can achieve in todays democracy. The 2 major parties are nothing but self serving machines, and neither will properly represent the needs of Australians. By sending them the message of where their votes are coming from, we may be able to affect change. Until then, they will just continue being nothing but populist, propaganda machines who are slaves to the mass media.

GetItRight Tuesday 31 August, 2010 - 5:13 PM
This is why voting for independents is folly. Unless of course you are part of the small minority in one of their seats, in which case the money will flow. Of course the majority suffer the uncertainty and "eccentricity".

Evan Tuesday 31 August, 2010 - 6:28 AM
I would rather see another election than to have individuals think they hold any power at all. Clear the decks.....

ptd Monday 30 August, 2010 - 7:54 PM
Hope that this is true. Neil I hope you are on the money!!!!!!!!

Rosie Guy Monday 30 August, 2010 - 3:03 PM
God help us all....thats all I can say if this is true.

mel Monday 30 August, 2010 - 1:09 PM
Does Mr. Abbott mean there will be no help for Pensioners ??
SURELY NOT . !!

judiann
DSP Australia Inc

judiann Monday 30 August, 2010 - 12:19 PM