NSW leadership spill: MPs vow to move against Gladys Berejiklian

Update: Ray Hadley revealed on 2GB on Tuesday morning that the move to call a spill against Gladys Berejiklian has been called off. In a new statement issued on Tuesday morning, Tanya Davies, Matthew Mason-Cox and Lou Amato said they would no longer call for a spill.

“Since releasing our statement last night, we have received confirmation that further concessions will be forthcoming in relation to amendments to the Abortion Bill,” the statement read, according to 2GB. “On this basis I have called the Premier this morning and advised her that we will withdraw the spill motion to continue negotiations prior to the debate in the upper house commencing later today.”

It wouldn’t be Australian politics without a leadership spill and as the abortion debate heats up in New South Wales, three MPs have threatened to move a spill motion against NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Despite leading the Liberal Party to victory just six months ago, several conservative party members including Tanya Davies, Matthew Mason-Cox and Lou Amato are unhappy with how Berejiklian has handled the abortion legislation – which could see abortion legalised in the state.

In a statement by the trio published in several media outlets including 7 News and The Australian, Davies – who is the MP for Mulgoa – and Mason-Cox and Amato – who are legislative council members – said they wanted to hold Berejiklian to account for “presiding over this shameful process”.

“We have also been alarmed by the Premier’s continued failure to address the impasse in the Legislative Council which has slowly ground the government’s legislative agenda to dust,” the statement read, according to 7 News. “This position is also untenable and must be urgently resolved for the good government of this state.”

The trio were said to be unhappy that amendments to the abortion bill including a prohibition on sex-selection abortions, proper medical care for aborted babies born alive, protection of conscientious objection rights for doctors and allied health professionals, and stricter regulation of late term abortions had been rejected in full or in part.

According to 7News Sydney, two MPs from the Liberal Party threatened to move to the crossbench over the legislation a number of weeks ago and on Monday night, Davies, Mason-Cox and Amato said they would move a motion in the party room to spill the leadership position and challenge the premier.

While a number of names have been thrown around as to who could challenge Berejiklian, 7 News reporter Sean Berry confirmed he’d spoken to Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes and Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance who both said they wouldn’t contest and they will continue to support the premier.

“At this stage, unless a challenger can be found, there’s a very real chance that there will be a spill between the premier and an empty chair,” Berry explained. “But you have to remember this is a secret ballot. If that empty chair gets a number of votes, it won’t be looking good for the premier.”

He continued: “She will be weakened and future challenges may be on the cards.”

Liberal MPs @TanyaDaviesMP, @MatthewMasonCox and Lou Amato say they will move a spill motion against Premier @GladysB tomorrow after their suggested amendments to the controversial abortion bill were rejected. https://t.co/fW7XwCSJsA @Seanberry7news #nswpol #TheLatest #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/wg3HUOnO4t

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 16, 2019

While Berejiklian had not broken her silence on the matter at the time of publication, other politicians have spoken out about the news. Deputy Premier of NSW John Barilaro tweeted on Monday night: “This is ridiculous. Our coalition agreement is with Gladys and any move would be a dumb move.”

https://twitter.com/JohnBarilaroMP/status/1173555958527614976

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean added: “This is not a spill, it’s a joke. Gladys will be leader tomorrow and the day after and for as long as she wants. She won us the election in March. She is our best asset and any challenge to her leadership is an act of political lunacy.”

This is not a spill, it’s a joke. Gladys will be leader tomorrow and the day after and for as long as she wants. She won us the election in March. She is our best asset and any challenge to her leadership is an act of political lunacy #nswpol

— Matt Kean MP (@Matt_KeanMP) September 16, 2019

Meanwhile, Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said: “Gladys Berejiklian is the reason why we won the last election – Gladys is the reason why we’ll win the next one,” while MP Mark Coure added: “Proud to support my friend and the most hardest working Premier we have ever seen! I’m backing Gladys!”

Of course, Davies, Mason-Cox and Amato aren’t the only politicians against the proposed bill, with former PM Tony Abbott and former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce both condemning possible plans to decriminalise abortion in the state. The fallout is expected to continue on Tuesday morning.