Global InformationTurnbull government information
Turnbull government | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In office | |
| 15 September 2015 – 24 August 2018 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General | Sir Peter Cosgrove |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Deputy | Michael McCormack (Feb. 2018 – Aug. 2018) Barnaby Joyce (Feb. 2016 – Oct. 2017; Dec. 2017 – Feb. 2018) Warren Truss (Sept. 2015 – Feb. 2016) |
| Party | Liberal and National (Coalition) |
| Status | Majority (Sep. 2015 – Nov. 2017; Dec. 2017 – Aug. 2018) Minority (Nov. 2017 – Dec. 2017)[a] |
| Origin | Turnbull wins 2015 Liberal leadership spill |
| Demise | Turnbull loses 2018 Liberal leadership spill |
| Predecessor | Abbott government |
| Successor | Morrison government |
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|---|---|---|
Prime Minister of Australia
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The Turnbull government was the federal executive government of Australia led by the 29th prime minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, from 2015 to 2018. It succeeded the Abbott government, which brought the Coalition to power at the 2013 Australian federal election. The government consisted of members of Australia's Liberal-Nationals Coalition. Turnbull took office by challenging his leader, Tony Abbott, in an internal leadership ballot. Warren Truss, the leader of the Nationals, served as Deputy Prime Minister until he retired in 2016 and was replaced by Barnaby Joyce. Joyce resigned in February 2018 and the Nationals' new leader Michael McCormack became Deputy Prime Minister.[1][2] The Turnbull government concluded with Turnbull's resignation ahead of internal leadership ballot which saw him succeeded as Prime Minister by Scott Morrison and the Morrison government.
In mounting his 2015 public challenge for the leadership, Turnbull cited extended poor polling in Newspoll by the Abbott government and said Australia needed a new style of "economic leadership".[3] Turnbull appointed Morrison as Treasurer in an expanded ministry, promoting several key supporters.[4] Julie Bishop remained as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Conservatives Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews were sent to the backbench. Joe Hockey left Parliament. The Turnbull government continued a number of Abbott government initiatives, promising a plebiscite legalising same-sex marriage, concluding Abbott era initiatives on an anti-domestic violence campaign, funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme, signing a China free trade deal, and reforming Senate voting.[5]
The April 2016 refusal of the Senate to pass the government's bill to re-establish a watchdog for the construction industry provided Turnbull with a double dissolution trigger.[6] An election was held on 2 July, and the government was returned with its majority in the House of Representatives reduced to one seat.[7] The 2016 election saw a resurgence of the right wing Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party, and discontented conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi left the party and established the Australian Conservatives soon after. The now elected Turnbull government secured passage of the Registered Organisations and Australian Building and Construction Commission legislation. In 2017, it announced Federal funds for expansion of Snowy Hydro. In June 2017, it introduced the "Gonski 2.0" reforms to schools funding. Factional strains continued.
Turnbull's ousting of Abbott had divided the Liberal Party rank and file and tensions continued in the parliamentary Party.[8][9][10] Abbott said Turnbull supporters had plotted against him.[11][12] The government reached the 30-consecutive-Newspoll-losses benchmark Turnbull had used to unseat Abbott, in April 2018.[13] The Parliament faced a period of instability under the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, and the Turnbull government briefly lost its parliamentary majority and Deputy Prime Minister Joyce.[14] Joyce was re-elected, but in February 2018 Turnbull denounced him and forced his resignation after the press reported on an office affair he had been conducting with a staffer.[15] By-election losses in July 2018 further diminished Turnbull's authority.[16] Dissent from conservative MPs over issues such as energy prices and immigration levels grew during Turnbull's final months. On 21 August, Turnbull announced a leadership spill ahead of his 39th consecutive Newspoll loss, which he narrowly won against Peter Dutton. Turnbull resigned three days later after narrowly losing the confidence of his Party room. Turnbull blamed Abbott, Dutton and conservative media commentators.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ PM bans sex between ministers and staff and calls on Barnaby Joyce to consider his position; smh.com.au; 15 Feb 2018
- ^ Killalea, Debra (26 February 2018). "Michael McCormack: Deputy PM role confirmed". News.com.au. Canberra, Australia. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "Liberal leadership: Malcolm Turnbull's press conference announcing challenge to Tony Abbott". Australia: ABC News. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ Kenny, Mark; Cox, Lisa (20 September 2015). "Malcolm Turnbull cabinet reshuffle: Women, young MPs the big winners in '21st century' team". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Turnbull follows Abbott on climate, marriage". Australia: Sky News. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Turnbull Government handed July 2 double dissolution trigger as Senate rejects ABCC bill". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Election 2016: LNP retains Capricornia, gives Coalition 76-seat majority government". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ NSW Liberals groan as Malcolm Turnbull tells gathering party is not ruled by factions, new PM praises Tony Abbott; Australian Broadcasting Corporation; 10 October 2015
- ^ Jeff Kennett attacks Malcolm Turnbull for 'self-interest' and lack of courage; The Sydney Morning Herald; 9 March 2016
- ^ Kevin Andrews says remarks about challenging Turnbull for leadership 'hypothetical'; Australian Broadcasting Corporation; 5 April 2016
- ^ Tony Abbott lashes out at Christopher Pyne over leaked leadership, same-sex marria; www.abc.net.au; 26/6/17
- ^ Andrew Bolt: Christopher Pyne drops Malcolm Turnbull's plan for Liberals on same-sex marriage; http://www.heraldsun.com.au; 26/7/17
- ^ Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hits 30 straight Newspoll losses; www.theaustralian.com.au; 18 April 2018
- ^ Shields, Bevan; Gartrell, Adam (11 November 2017). "Citizenship crisis: Turnbull government MP John Alexander resigns from Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Barnaby Joyce throws Coalition into crisis over PM's 'inept and unnecessary' attack; www.theguardian.com; 16 Feb 2018
- ^ Malcolm Turnbull's authority diminished after by-election failures; www.abc.net.au; 30 July 2018