Missteps and backlash: Tony Abbott’s 2 years as Australian PM

SYDNEY, Australia – Tony Abbott, ousted as Australian Prime Minister by challenger Malcolm Turnbull on Monday, September 14, had a tumultuous 2 years in office.

Here is a timeline of incidents since Abbott won the federal election in September 2013:

2013:

September 7: Tony Abbott’s Liberal/National coalition wins a decisive mandate, ending 6 years of Labor government.

September 18: Abbott introduces a military-led effort to turn back asylum-seeker boats and send those that do arrive to remote Pacific island detention camps.

November 18: Documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden allege that Australia tried to tap the phones of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and several top officials in 2009, damaging relations between the neighboring countries.

2014:

March 25: A staunch monarchist, Abbott announces that “knights” and “dames” titles will be reintroduced to recognise distinguished members of Australian society. He is accused of sending the nation into a “time warp.”

May 13: Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey introduce a tough first budget with massive cuts to health and education spending to slash the country’s deficit, but the unpopular move sparks street protests and polls show government support plunging.

July 17: The government successfully pushes through another election promise – the repeal of the carbon tax imposed by the previous Labor administration on major polluters to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

October 13: Abbott vows to “shirtfront,” or confront, Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit later in the year over the loss of Australian lives in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash over Ukraine.

 2015: 

January 26: Abbott decides to knight Britain’s Prince Philip, attracting ridicule, with some conservative supporters questioning his leadership.

February 3: Several Liberal members of parliament call for a party leadership challenge, as the Prince Philip knighthood brings tensions to a head.

February 9: Abbott survives a leadership “spill” and calls for an end to “disunity and uncertainty”, after the motion is rejected 61 to 39 in a secret ballot.

March 11: Abbott criticised for describing living in remote Aboriginal communities as a “lifestyle choice.”

May 12: Abbott and Treasurer Hockey unveil a budget to woo voters after the 2014 backlash, while promising to tackle slumping government revenue and a large deficit.

August 2: Australian parliamentary speaker Bronwyn Bishop resigns amid mounting public anger over her travel expenses, with Abbott criticised for allowing his political mentor to remain in the role for more than three weeks after the first reports of her extravagant trips.

September 11: Immigration Minister Peter Dutton offends Pacific island leaders with remarks about “water lapping at your door” following regional talks involving climate change. Abbott is criticised for laughing at the comments.

September 14: Malcolm Turnbull resigns as communications minister to challenge Abbott for the leadership of the Liberal Party, winning the ballot 54-44. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is returned as deputy leader, beating Defense Minister Kevin Andrews 70-30. – Rappler.com