Leadership spill ... Brendan Nelson is "very confident" of his colleagues` support. Picture: Andrew Maccoll
Brendan Nelson plans leadership spill
Malcolm Turnbull to contest the vote
Nelson "very" confident of party support
OPPOSITION leader Brendan Nelson will face off against Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership ballot tomorrow morning, which mirrors the contest the pair began nearly 10 months ago.
Dr Nelson tonight said he would be calling a spill of the leadership of the Liberal party tomorrow morning, with Mr Turnbull remaining tightlipped over his decision to contest the vote until late this evening .
Dr Nelson brought on the unexpected chain of events during a hastily convened party room meeting, where he gave an impassioned speech and expressed anger at the destabilisation within the party.
Nelson "very" confident
Dr Nelson said he was "very" confident of having the support of his colleagues, and if re-endorsed would be asking the party to draw a line in the sand and mark a transition for the Liberals.
"If I am re-endorsed as leader, I will remain absolutely determined and committed to the future of our party and Australia," he said.
"But as we move forward, I am asking our party to draw a line in the sand and mark a transition from the difficult aftermath of an election defeat to the building and presentation of a credible, attractive and inspiring alternative government.
"In doing so, we will make a renewed commitment to unity and discipline, to focus less on internal preoccupations and more on the Rudd government, policy and the important issues concerning everyday Australians."
Turnbull consulting colleagues
A spokesman for Mr Turnbull tonight said he would be a candidate in the ballot.
"He is spending time between now and then consulting with colleagues,`` he said.
A Liberal source said Mr Turnbull, who arrived back from a holiday in Italy on the weekend, was expressionless when the spill was announced.
Mr Turnbull had not been expected to make any move against Dr Nelson for at least a couple of weeks.
It remains unclear tonight if there will be any other contenders for the top job.
Nelson wants a "clean out"
ABC TV reported that Dr Nelson planned a "clean out`` of his front bench if he retained the leadership.
Dr Nelson`s leadership has been dogged by uncertainty since he took the job following the coalition`s election defeat last November, with the situation exacerbated by his poor showing in opinion polls.
He won last year`s ballot against Mr Turnbull by just three votes.
Tonight, it became clear some in Mr Costello`s support base was moving to the Nelson camp, while support for Mr Turnbull was coming from elements within WA and Queensland.
Senator Mitch Fifield and frontbencher Tony Smith, who both voted for Mr Turnbull in the last ballot, have switched their vote to Dr Nelson.
Bishop staying quiet
Tonight, the position of the deputy Liberal leadership also remained unclear.
Ms Bishop has not indicated she plans to stand aside from her position.
She has previously said she would happily work with either Dr Nelson or Mr Turnbull.
However, during tomorrow`s meeting, one of her colleagues could call for a spill of the position.
This guy is a muppet.If he stops campaigning and actually figures out what he wants to achieve, then maybe people will respect him as leader.Instead he keeps on barking as if it is a campaign when it blatently isn't.
Posted by: Ross of Perth 8:48pm today
This is the saddest day in the history of Australian politics, never again shall we come so close to having a political party with leaders called Abbott and Costello. Personally I don't think Nelson has the ruthlessness of Howard or Keating (good thing really) but to be accepted as a leader of the Liberals he needs to be a "head-kicker" which Nelson is clearly not. I just hope Costello can get on with his life knowing that he came so close in becoming the leader of the Liberals in his own right. The only way the lib's stand a chance in the next election will be if they get rid of some of their dead wood (Abbott and Bishop to name a few) and start afresh. I truly doubt that Nelson will be leader in 6 months time as Turnbull is chafing at the bit to have a go. Personally I think it would probably be a good thing.
Posted by: Paul of Salisbury East 8:48pm today
Im very confident Mr Nelson will prevail. He is actually very popular out there in mainstream australia, its just the MEDIA that has it in for him. On the other hand the media worship Labor and KRudd, its sickening. Mr. Nelson will win easily, and be PM in 2 years, 100 percent no doubt.
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