Minchin won't contest next election

Tony Abbott has been handed an opportunity to reshape his front bench after Liberal
powerbroker Nick Minchin resigned from the shadow ministry, signalling he would
retire at the next election.

The shock move by the South Australian senator - prompted in large part by his son's
recent accident - is a major loss for the Liberals and will force a shake-up of the
conservative power structure.
It will be a personal blow for Mr Abbott, whose ascension to the Liberal leadership
was substantially orchestrated by Senator Minchin.
He will immediately step down from the front bench but will remain in parliament
until his Senate term expires next year.
Last month's accident involving his son Oliver, an Australian Defence Force cadet
who was seriously hurt after being struck by a boat propeller, was a key factor in
his decision.
"Obviously when something like that happens and when one of your children has,
frankly, a near-death experience it does make you reassess your life and your
priorities," he told reporters in Adelaide.
A number of colleagues expressed surprise Senator Minchin had stayed on as long as
he had after the Howard government's 2007 election loss.
He admitted he couldn't in "good conscience" commit to another six years.
Mr Abbott has given Ian Macfarlane acting responsibility for energy and resources
but the resignation gives him room to move his gaffe-prone finance spokesman Barnaby
Joyce.
Whether he will is another matter.
Mr Abbott wouldn't want to be seen to be giving in to pressure from the Rudd
government.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner was at it again on Wednesday, urging Mr Abbott to
end "his failed experiment with Senator Joyce".
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison rejected suggestions Senator Joyce
may be moved.
"The government is very quick to try and attack Barnaby but if they actually got
themselves out of Canberra and talked to people right across Australia they would
understand that Barnaby enjoys incredibly strong support," he told Sky News.
Mr Abbott and former prime minister John Howard, who was very close to Senator
Minchin, lauded his 30 years of service to the Liberal Party, including 17 years in
the Senate.
"Nick Minchin was a fine parliamentary colleague, a very competent minister and
someone who has given three decades of his life to the service of the Liberal
Party," Mr Howard said.
Mr Abbott said he was a "pillar of strength" for the Liberals.
During the Howard government, he became Australia's longest-serving finance
minister, a job he held for six years, but many will remember him best for his
backroom manoeuvring.
Senator Minchin played kingmaker when Brendan Nelson won the Liberal leadership and
was instrumental in bringing down former opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull last
year.
He will resign his role as opposition leader in the Senate ahead of the budget
session, with growing expectations his conservative ally Eric Abetz will succeed
him.
His departure from the leadership role will make moderate Christopher Pyne the most
senior federal Liberal in South Australia, shifting the balance of factional power
in that state.
Senator Minchin made the surprise announcement on Wednesday afternoon, just two days
after nominations closed - and after he renominated - for the Liberal Senate ticket
in South Australia.
There's speculation his retirement - leaving open the prime first spot on the Senate
ticket - will see nominations reopened for the April 30 preselection.
Apart from Senator Minchin, nominees were Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher, former MP
David Fawcett, who lost his seat of Wakefield at the last election, and party
president Sean Edwards.



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next