# The Soap Opera That Is Australian Politics, 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 4, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793 "2015-02-04T10:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/61 "2015-09-14T09:33:10Z")
Shorten is clearly panicking. He held a press conference and all he managed to do was draw attention to just how afraid he is of Turnbull. It showed no political acumen at all. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/62 "2015-09-14T09:54:57Z")
Vote tonight, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/63 "2015-09-14T09:59:56Z")
Abbott’s trying to hold the ballot before Turnbull gathers the numbers. I suspect it’s already too late, however: the Sydney Morning Herald is saying he already has the 60 he needs. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/64 "2015-09-14T10:13:27Z")
Tony’s still thinking he has the numbers, according to the latest reports. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/65 "2015-09-14T10:16:53Z")
Yes, it’s getting murkier by the minute. It’s very hard to call the outcome right now. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/66 "2015-09-14T10:17:03Z")
Both contenders think they have the numbers: clearly some of the liberals are having a bet each way, and intimating to each side that they have their support. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/67 "2015-09-14T10:33:21Z")
I loved Hockey’s press conference. He looked like he’d taken Turnbull’s trash talking of the economy personally… Which is probably fair enough, but still very entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/68 "2015-09-14T10:39:23Z")
An insider on Abbott’s side is tipping Turnbull to win. Meanwhile, Abbott appears to be scurrying around, desperately looking for a running mate. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/69 "2015-09-14T10:59:51Z")
Ballot is predicted around 9:15pm. This is different to last time: there’s enough backstory for Turnbull to differentiate this from the Rudd/Gillard stabbings, Turnbull’s actually declared this time, rather than being purely backbench, and Bishop’s backing Turnbull too. I’ll be interested to see how Labor reacts: Shorten looks more and more useless, maybe Albo gets his second chance. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/70 "2015-09-14T11:08:30Z")
> [@tavalla](#): > > … and Bishop’s backing Turnbull too. For those confused by the ecclesiastical hierarchy in the Liberal Party of Australia, that’s Julie Bishop (the deputy leader of the Liberals), not Bronwyn Bishop (the former Speaker). ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/71 "2015-09-14T11:13:36Z")
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Turnbull camp are saying it’ll be tight. They’re probably trying to scare any fence-sitters. Frankly, I can’t believe it’s such a hard decision. Even the Abbott loyalists and right-wing ideologues must see that a vote for Abbott is effectively a vote for Shorten. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/72 "2015-09-14T11:18:30Z")
Meeting’s getting underway. Abbott entered surrounded by a cadre of backers in a move that did not look at all like a desperate show of force. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/73 "2015-09-14T11:20:19Z")
Also, if Tones goes tonight, he will apparently be about four days short of length of stay required for a prime ministerial pension. I wonder if Turnbull factored that in at all? ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/74 "2015-09-14T11:22:54Z")
> [@tavalla](#): > > Also, if Tones goes tonight, he will apparently be about four days short of length of stay required for a prime ministerial pension. I wonder if Turnbull factored that in at all? That’s absolutely glorious. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/75 "2015-09-14T11:24:34Z")
> [@tavalla](#): > > Meeting’s getting underway. Abbott entered surrounded by a cadre of backers in a move that did not look at all like a desperate show of force. Sounds symbolic of his PM-ship as a whole. Remember the “ten flag announcement” thing? ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/76 "2015-09-14T11:31:36Z")
[Flag numbers](http://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/6/24/1435117231700/7dba92d7-4b48-4d87-84a7-c725df7c7573-1020x593.png?w=1920&h=-&). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/77 "2015-09-14T11:41:45Z")
Latest shock news: \*Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard is under observation at Royal Prince Philip hospital after overdosing on schadenfreude, the pleasure derived from witnessing someone else’s misfortune. Gillard was found in her residence clutching an oversized bag of popcorn and watching the ABC’s 7:30 Report. An ambulance was called to the Gillard residence and she was taken to hospital where she remains in a stable non-life threatening condition. Hospital staff were quick to caution that it was not all good news however. “Unfortunately we were unable to wipe the smile off her face,” said a hospital spokesperson. “We tried everything we could but it won’t budge. This is unusual for a simple case of excessive schadenfreude.\* [http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2015/02/04/julia-gillard-rushed-hospital-after-overdosing-schadenfreude](http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2015/02/04/julia-gillard-rushed-hospital-after-overdosing-schadenfreude) ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/78 "2015-09-14T11:46:41Z")
[Twitter right now…](https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CO3HZfdVEAAVQNp.mp4) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/79 "2015-09-14T11:48:16Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Sounds symbolic of his PM-ship as a whole. Remember the “ten flag announcement” thing? [Would you believe twenty flags?](http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2015/06/23/press-corps-terrified-abbott-puts-out-20-flags-announcement) ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/80 "2015-09-14T11:49:26Z")
54-44 Turnbull. We have a new PM. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793.md?page=5)