Tony Abbott speaking at the launch of his book, Battlelines in Sydney on July 28 2009, pic by sandra lee
Liberal Party “hard man” Tony Abbott was described as the party’s “intellectual” just hours after it was revealed that Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull had sunk further in the latest opinion poll today.
“Someone here has already described him as the Liberal Party’s intellectual,” said Melbourne University Press CEO Louise Adler, at the launch of Abbott’s book, Battlelines. “Some might say that is a contradiction, I don’t think that’s the case.
“He is an author without a venal bone in his body.”
Adler, who it should be noted is not known for a conservative bent, said that when she offered Abbott a healthy advance for his book, he halved it. It was an interesting insight into the things that motivate Abbott. Clearly, not money; not for nothing is he known as a conviction politician.
So it was no surprise that the Australian Liberal Party defender and Federal Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, launched a strident defence of the embattled Turnbull.
“Look, polls come and go but Malcolm is our leader for keeps. I think Malcolm is doing a good job,” Abbott told reporters. “I think the Kevin Rudd honeymoon is wearing off.”
He also took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s essay in the weekend papers, calling it “vanity publishing”.
Abbott’s book, launched by Sarah Murdoch, is part personal philosophy and part road map for the way ahead for the stricken Liberal Party.
“I have read Battlelines and I couldn’t put it down,” the Bonds model and host of Australia’s Next Top Model said. “You have the strength and character to say what you truly believe in. Tony, your courage and devotion and your commitment to public life is inspirational.”
Sarah Murdoch launched Tony Abbott's book Battlelines after getting to know him when hosting the Today show (Pic courtesy Bonds)
Abbott, who was previously known as John Howard’s Praetorian Guard, has known Murdoch since 2007 when he sparred weekly with now Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Channel Nine’s Today show of which Murdoch was briefly co-host. He joked that he might be a potential finalist of one of her next shows, Australia’s Next Top Politician.
Leadership aspirations, Tony?
“The coalition is not going to win the next election by criticising the Rudd government,” Abbott said. Rather it has to provide good, strong policy alternatives to engage the electorate – and it has to do it long before the election is called.
Good point.
Abbott also said the country needed a “fair go for families because our children are even more important than better roads and water”, a debate about federalism, and support for larger and more cohesive families. While he may be criticised as being deliberately provocative, Abbott said his conservative ideas were in accordance with mainstream Australia, although there are plenty in mainstream Australia who don’t agree with his ideas about taking family law back to the 1970s and making divorce more difficult.
About 150 people crowded into the Wharf Restaurant behind the Sydney Theatre Company for the mid-morning event which featured a Who’s Who of conservative figures and writers in Australia.
Check out the line up; former attorney general Philip Ruddock, Federal member for Mackellar Bronwyn Bishop – who Abbott described as his “political neighbour and friend”, Federal Liberal frontbencher Scott Morrison, monarchist Professor David Flint, and Quadrant editor Keith Windschuttle. John Howard was a late apology.
Media faces included columnists Miranda Devine, Christopher Pearson (who Abbott called his “intellectual godfather since I have been in Parliament”), Dennis Shanahan, and Piers Akerman, and the opinion page editor from The Australian, Rebecca Weisser.
Tony Abbott speaks to reporters at the launch of his book, and defends Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull (pic by sandra lee)
Also putting in an appearance were the ABC’s Lateline hosts Tony Jones and Leigh Sales (doing her best Anna Wintour impression by wearing sunglasses during the speeches to fend off the sunlight), Today co-host Karl Stefanovic (who moved seats to sit next to Sales), Jana Wendt looking every bit as glamorous as ever, Maxine McKew biographer Margot Saville, Lachlan Murdoch and, hysterically, Abbott’s celibacy advisor who he said was one of the people who “helped me through some tough times” when he was studying for the priesthood.
Incidentally, MUP has also published Peter Costello’s memoirs and John Winston Howard, The Biography by Peter van Onselen (who was also in attendance) and Wayne Errington.
My ears pricked up when Adler said the Howard book (he’s currently penning his autobiography) has sold 20,000 copies in hardback, and The Costello Memoirs has done a very respectable 40,000 in its first format.
That comment dispelled two myths – that Costello’s book has been remaindered (and, arguably, is now officially more popular than the vO&E tome on Howard?) and that books about Liberal Party politicians don’t sell.
Well, let’s see how Abbott’s Battlelines goes.
