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Why Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott might get fired on Tuesday Why Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott might get fired on Tuesday
(about 5 hours later)
This story has been updated.This story has been updated.
When it comes to figuring out who’s in charge, Americans have it pretty easy. President Obama was re-elected in 2012. Love him or hate him, voters know he’ll be in the White House until 2016 — barring, of course, medical emergency or impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors. When it comes to figuring out who’s in charge, Americans have it pretty easy. President Obama was reelected in 2012. Love him or hate him, voters know he’ll be in the White House until 2016 — barring, of course, medical emergency or impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors.
In Australia — where Australia’s unpopular winking leader may not have his job for much longer — things aren’t so simple. In Australia — where an unpopular winking leader may not have his job for much longer — things aren’t so simple.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott faces what’s called a parliamentary “spill” motion — in Australian politics, a leadership challenge that can result in him getting the boot. Though Abbott was elected in 2013 and is serving a three-year term, his own party has called for its 102 representatives in parliament to, essentially, re-confirm Abbott’s position as leader. Prime Minister Tony Abbott faces what’s called a parliamentary “spill” motion — in Australian politics, a leadership challenge that can result in his getting the boot. Though Abbott was elected in 2013 and is serving a three-year term, his own party has called for its 102 representatives in parliament to, essentially, reconfirm Abbott’s position as leader.
Abbott said he would fight the measure, expected to go to a vote on Tuesday. Abbott said he would fight the measure, which is expected to go to a vote on Tuesday.
“They are asking the party room to vote out the people that the electorate voted in in September 2013,” he said, as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. “They are asking the party room to vote out the people that the electorate voted in in September 2013,” he said, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
But there are signs that the public may regret how it voted about 18 months ago. Abbott has seen sinking opinion polls. He’s been criticized for being a know-nothing on climate change. He’s been dinged for his austerity measures. And he hasn’t gotten much of a boost from his strong response to terror threats in Australia linked to the Islamic State.But there are signs that the public may regret how it voted about 18 months ago. Abbott has seen sinking opinion polls. He’s been criticized for being a know-nothing on climate change. He’s been dinged for his austerity measures. And he hasn’t gotten much of a boost from his strong response to terror threats in Australia linked to the Islamic State.
Abbott, a member of Australia’s Liberal Party, warned of a return to the politics of the rival Labor Party, known for its leadership tussles.Abbott, a member of Australia’s Liberal Party, warned of a return to the politics of the rival Labor Party, known for its leadership tussles.
“We are not the Labor Party and we are not going to repeat the chaos and the instability of the Labor years,” he said. “We are not the Labor Party, and we are not going to repeat the chaos and the instability of the Labor years,” he said.
After news broke, many prominent members of the Liberal Party rallied around Abbott — a rhetorical pep rally that, for one, resulted in a gaffe. After the news broke, many prominent members of the Liberal Party rallied around Abbott — a rhetorical pep rally that, for one, resulted in a gaffe.
“I believe the team of Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard is the best leadership team for the Liberal Party and therefore part of the best leadership team of the Coalition for the country,” Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said, as the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Andrews presumably meant to support Abbott’s deputy, Julie Bishop — but named Gillard, former Labor prime minister, by mistake. “I believe the team of Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard is the best leadership team for the Liberal Party and therefore part of the best leadership team of the coalition for the country,” Defense Minister Kevin Andrews said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Andrews presumably meant to support Abbott’s deputy, Julie Bishop — but named Gillard, former Labor prime minister, by mistake.
It was as if a politician, say, trying to praise Joe Biden praised Joe McCarthy instead.  It was as if a politician, say, trying to praise Joe Biden praised Joe McCarthy instead.  
“It was unfortunate,” the Sydney Morning Herald wrote. “And it was perfect.”“It was unfortunate,” the Sydney Morning Herald wrote. “And it was perfect.”
Parliament member Luke Simpkins introduced the measure, citing Abbott’s recent decision to knight Prince Philip — Queen Elizabeth’s husband, a nonagenarian Brit whose selection evoked painful memories of Australia’s time as a colony. As The Washington Post’s Adam Taylor reported, this is a man who once asked a successful Australian entrepreneur from an aboriginal community: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”Parliament member Luke Simpkins introduced the measure, citing Abbott’s recent decision to knight Prince Philip — Queen Elizabeth’s husband, a nonagenarian Brit whose selection evoked painful memories of Australia’s time as a colony. As The Washington Post’s Adam Taylor reported, this is a man who once asked a successful Australian entrepreneur from an aboriginal community: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
RELATED: To much disbelief, Australia decides to knight Queen Elizabeth’s husbandRELATED: To much disbelief, Australia decides to knight Queen Elizabeth’s husband
“The knighthood issue was for many the final proof of a disconnection with the people,” Abbott said. He added it was “time to test the support of the leadership in the party room,” as the Associated Press reported. “The knighthood issue was for many the final proof of a disconnection with the people,” Abbott said. He added it was “time to test the support of the leadership in the party room,” the Associated Press reported.
If the measure passes, Abbott could retain his position if no one runs against him. If he faced a challenger, he would have to win get 52 votes — half of those voting plus one. Or he could face multiple challengers, requiring a runoff election. If the measure passes, Abbott could retain his position if no one runs against him. If he faced a challenger, he would have to get 52 votes to win — half of those voting plus one. Or he could face multiple challengers, requiring a runoff election.
But even if Abbott is victorious, this won’t look good.But even if Abbott is victorious, this won’t look good.
“No matter what the result on Tuesday, the Liberal Party has suffered immensely from this instability,” SBS, an Australian public broadcaster, wrote. “The only silver lining is that the next election is at least 16 months away.” “No matter what the result on Tuesday, the Liberal Party has suffered immensely from this instability,” said SBS, an Australian public broadcaster. “The only silver lining is that the next election is at least 16 months away.”
RELATED: How Australia’s winking Tony Abbott became one of the world’s most unpopular prime ministersRELATED: How Australia’s winking Tony Abbott became one of the world’s most unpopular prime ministers