from Crikey .....

Andrew Crook writes:

It was the day the Liberals and the ETS died in a head-on car crash befitting the spectacular fireworks of an ridiculous last week in Canberra. Christmas had clearly come early for hyperactive politicos who gathered around TV screens to watch the carnage unfold.

Tony Abbott has addressed parliament for the first time as opposition leader - and declared he will now have to stop flirting with Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Abbott kicked off proceedings in the lower house today by stating "a little while ago I was elected leader of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party".

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The pressure on Tony Blair is mounting. After only four days of the Chilcot inquiry, the former prime minister is reported to be furious that a succession of senior diplomats and civil servants have torn into his reputation by questioning his judgment and honesty over the decision to go to war with Iraq.

from Crikey .....

New law gives police the right to frisk anyone, anywhere

Greg Barns writes:

Do Victoria's police minister Bob Cameron and that state's police commissioner Simon Overland like policy to be evidence-based or are they more interested in political point-scoring and window-dressing?

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

The inspiring news in a week of political strife and tumult is that Kevin Andrews stands ready to lead the Liberal Party and the nation to broad, sunlit uplands. His bold challenge to Malcolm Turnbull last Wednesday surely dispels at a stroke the unkind perception of a sneering few that the member for Menzies is a prissy, extravagantly barbered dolt with a political tin ear.

from Crikey .....

So how come an ETS was OK under John Howard? Ask the oldies .....

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes:

This image of Uluru was composed by Gus (using Gus's own pictures) and can be used by anyone. Read more...

bishops, abbots and cardinal sins

At the heart of Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22 is a brilliant paradox: if you plead insanity to avoid suicidal bombing missions then you must be sane and can't be excused.

Tony Abbott will challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the Liberal leadership on Monday.

Mr Abbott is one of several frontbenchers who resigned yesterday over dissatisfaction with Mr Turnbull's handling of the emissions trading scheme legislation.

He says if Mr Turnbull refuses to change his mind on the bill on Friday, there will be a leadership spill on Monday.

The open rebellion within the Liberal Party continues this morning, with many starting to consider who will replace Malcolm Turnbull as Opposition Leader.

Even some of Mr Turnbull's supporters now say his position is so damaged that he will not be able to keep his job. One source close to him predicts he could resign as early as today.

The Opposition Leader was defiant last night despite mass resignations from his front bench yesterday evening.

Senators Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz and high-profile MP Tony Abbott were the most senior among the 12 Liberals to quit.

Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to go down fighting on climate change after a flood of Liberal frontbenchers - including Nick Minchin and Tony Abbott - quit last night in a bid to pressure the Opposition Leader to reverse his support for Labor's emissions trading scheme.

As the climate change rebels dramatically escalated their campaign, the shadow treasurer and Turnbull ally, Joe Hockey, declared himself prepared to stand for the leadership should Mr Turnbull fall.

Today, almost everything has changed and has not changed.

from the SMH

GODWIN GRECH was attempting to collude on fees paid to an investment banker, while styling himself as an intimate adviser to the Liberal leader, Malcolm Turnbull.

A report into the so-called ''Utegate'' affair outlines extensive links between Mr Grech and Mr Turnbull, John Howard's former chief of staff Arthur Sinodinos, and also John O'Sullivan, the head of investment banking at Credit Suisse and the husband of The Australian's Janet Albrechtsen.

MALCOLM TURNBULL'S critics have vowed to keep pursuing him and warned that unless the Coalition's standing in the polls improves early next year, he should expect another leadership challenge.

After days of rancour and division caused by Mr Turnbull's support for an emissions trading scheme, the Opposition Leader survived a leadership challenge by seven votes yesterday, beating Kevin Andrews by 48 to 35.

Mr Turnbull, whose temperament throughout the debate further alienated his detractors and worried his supporters, pledged to improve his manner.