Fed: Turnbull is toast in leadership ballot

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2009
Fed: Turnbull is toast in leadership ballot

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - Malcolm Turnbull is toast in Tuesday's leadership ballot, Howard
government minister and short-term leadership aspirant Kevin Andrews says.

To hold on to the leadership, Mr Turnbull must beat the right's Tony Abbott and moderate
Joe Hockey in the ballot that will be held shortly after 9am (AEDT).

Mr Andrews, who made a failed bid for the leadership last Wednesday, says "obviously"

Mr Hockey or Mr Abbott will win the vote.

"Until the ballot is held I am not sure about who will win," he told ABC Radio.

"Part of this process is to try and find a way to unite us again."

Mr Andrews said the majority of the Liberal Party opposed the government's emissions
trading legislation.

"We were then told (by Mr Turnbull) well, we we're supporting it so that wasn't going
to bring about unity in the party," he said.

Mr Andrews urged his colleagues to unite around the elected leader.

"Others around the leader will have to act with a sense of goodwill to rebuild the
party because if we can't do that we are not going to ever get back into government,"

he said.

AAP mj/gfr/jlw

KEYWORD: LIBERALS ANDREWS

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