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| Australian PM Abbott 'has not considered resigning' | Australian PM Abbott 'has not considered resigning' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he has not considered resigning, despite a slump in popularity and growing questions about his leadership. | Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he has not considered resigning, despite a slump in popularity and growing questions about his leadership. |
| In a major policy speech, he confirmed the scrapping of a paid parental leave scheme, one of his signature policies. | In a major policy speech, he confirmed the scrapping of a paid parental leave scheme, one of his signature policies. |
| Mr Abbott admitted he had suffered a couple of months of "hard times". | Mr Abbott admitted he had suffered a couple of months of "hard times". |
| He has faced criticism for awarding a knighthood to Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip and suffered a shock defeat in state elections. | He has faced criticism for awarding a knighthood to Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip and suffered a shock defeat in state elections. |
| But he told journalists at the National Press Club in Canberra he believed he was still the best person to lead the country and had not considered quitting. | But he told journalists at the National Press Club in Canberra he believed he was still the best person to lead the country and had not considered quitting. |
| Referring to the previous Labor government, which struggled with infighting, Mr Abbott said his party was elected in 2013 because "the Australian people rejected chaos". | Referring to the previous Labor government, which struggled with infighting, Mr Abbott said his party was elected in 2013 because "the Australian people rejected chaos". |
| "And we are not going to take them back to that chaos... Let's also remember what I have said time and time again at the time... Once you go to an election it is the people who 'hire and fire'," he said. | "And we are not going to take them back to that chaos... Let's also remember what I have said time and time again at the time... Once you go to an election it is the people who 'hire and fire'," he said. |
| 'Times are tough' | 'Times are tough' |
| He also said he had the full support of his deputy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. | He also said he had the full support of his deputy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. |
| "Julie's a friend of mine, Julie's my deputy... I believe I have her full support and I certainly look forward to continuing to have that." | "Julie's a friend of mine, Julie's my deputy... I believe I have her full support and I certainly look forward to continuing to have that." |
| Ms Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull have been suggested as possible contenders for his job, although both have publicly backed Mr Abbott. | Ms Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull have been suggested as possible contenders for his job, although both have publicly backed Mr Abbott. |
| On the paid parental leave scheme, Mr Abbott said it was "off the table" as the country currently could not afford the scheme. | On the paid parental leave scheme, Mr Abbott said it was "off the table" as the country currently could not afford the scheme. |
| "I admire stay-at-home mums - as [his wife] Margie was when our children were young - but still firmly believe in the need for a better paid parental leave scheme to maximise my daughters' choices to have a career and to have a family too," he said. | "I admire stay-at-home mums - as [his wife] Margie was when our children were young - but still firmly believe in the need for a better paid parental leave scheme to maximise my daughters' choices to have a career and to have a family too," he said. |
| "Still, I accept that what's desirable is not always doable especially when times are tough and budgets are tight." | "Still, I accept that what's desirable is not always doable especially when times are tough and budgets are tight." |
| The government's initial policy said mothers would be provided with half a year's paid parental leave at their actual wage or at the national minimum wage, whichever was greater, but with a cap at A$150,000 ($116,500; £77,254). | |
| Women would also be paid pension funds and the whole scheme was to be funded by a 1.5% levy on companies with taxable incomes in excess of A$5m ($3.8m; £2.6m). | |
| But members of Mr Abbott's own party said it was too expensive and it received only a lukewarm response from women's groups because it did not address rising child care costs. | But members of Mr Abbott's own party said it was too expensive and it received only a lukewarm response from women's groups because it did not address rising child care costs. |
| Asked if he would accept a knighthood, he said no, adding: "I think it is highly unlikely I would be offered any particular gong at this time." | Asked if he would accept a knighthood, he said no, adding: "I think it is highly unlikely I would be offered any particular gong at this time." |