Abbott will fight leadership spill

Tony Abbott has stated he and Julie Bishop are united against the spill motion. Courtesy: Sky News

Leadership crisis ... Julie Bishop has deflected comments today while Christopher Pyne spoke openly about the motional for a spill. Picture: Keryn Stevens Source: News Corp Australia

TONY Abbott says he and Julie Bishop will oppose the spill motion to be put to the party room on Tuesday.

Mr Abbott urged his party to avoid the chaos of the Labor years.

"We are not the Labor Party and we are not going to repeat the chaos of Labor years," the Prime Minister said.

WHAT HAPPENS: How a leadership spill works

MORE: If Tony Abbott goes, who goes with him?

BISHOP DEFLECTS: 'You tell me what's going on'

He said his colleagues Luke Simpkins and Don Randall were "entitled" to bring forward the spill motion but that they were defying what the Australian people had voted for.

"They are asking the party room to vote out the people they voted in," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott said he had spoken to Julie Bishop since news broke of the spill motion.

"We will stand together to call on party to defeat this motion," Mr Abbott said of his deputy Ms Bishop.

The Prime Minister did not take any questions at his press conference.

A statement released by Ms Bishop after Mr Abbott's press conference is being read by many as one she was pushed into.

It is understood Ms Bishop would not be on a ticket with Mr Abbott in the event of a leadership spill.

She is said to be considering her options, which would include her standing as a leadership candidate.

In response to Mr Abbott's comments, the Foreign Minister simply outlined her duty as deputy leader and a cabinet minister, rather than endorsing his leadership.

Sky News has stated that she "agreed with the Prime Minister that due to cabinet solidarity and her position as deputy there should be support for current leadership in this spill motion".

But a senior source told News Corp Australia: "I think Julie's been verballed".

"Julie can either decide now if she wants to stay in the past or move into the future," another source said.

Staying silent for now ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Peter Lorimer. Source: News Corp Australia

Turnbull silent as poll results prove a headache for Abbott

Malcolm Turnbull has remained silent on the leadership issue since news of the spill broke.

His spokesman said the Communications Minister had no comment at this stage in relation to the spill motion.

It is unlikely a statement will be issued later tonight.

His Sydney office had voicemail turned on shortly before 6pm Friday.

Chief government whip Phillip Ruddock said it wasn't guaranteed that Tuesday's vote would be secret.

"It can be secret or it can be a show of hands but that is up to the leader," Mr Ruddock told News Corp Australia.

However he wouldn't speculate on whether or not the motion should go ahead and how he should vote.

He said MPs might speak on the issue before a vote to put forward their view.

SkyNews reported the results of a new ReachTel poll which could prove to be a headache for supporters of Mr Abbott.

In the two-party-preferred results, the poll showed a stark divide between support for the Coalition under Mr Abbott and other possible leaders, Ms Bishop and Mr Turnbull.

Under Mr Abbott, support for the Coalition slumped to 45 percent, whereas under Ms Bishop it would enjoy 51 percent support, and that figure increased to 54 percent under Mr Turnbull.

Fighting back ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott holds a press conference about the upcoming leadership challenge at his Sydney office. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Andrews, Cormann and Frydenberg support Abbott

Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said they supported Mr Abbott and would be voting against the spill motion.

Mr Cormann said his colleagues and the party room was in support of Mr Abbott.

"The cabinet is unanimous behind Tony Abbott as Prime Minister," Senator Cormann said.

"I believe the party room is overwhelmingly behind Tony Abbott as Prime Minister.

"Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop are a strong leadership team ... it is very important that we all pull together."

Opposing the spill motion ... Finance Minister Mathias Cormann backs Mr Abbott. Source: News Corp Australia

Frontbencher Josh Frydenberg said that he supported Mr Abbott.

"Labor's time in government was like a bad horror movie and I'm not about to buy a ticket to that one," Mr Frydenberg said.

"This motion will be defeated, hopefully.

"I am very confident about that."

In response to the Liberal leadership tussles, Labor released a statement saying the leadership was not the important issue.

"Abbott, Bishop, Turnbull... whoever's the leader, the Liberals' policies remain the same: unfair for Australian families, pushing up cost of living pressures," the statement read.

Mr Abbott, Ms Bishop, Mr Turnbull and Treasurer Joe Hockey had all "ticked off" the government's contentions 2014 budget, the Labor statement read.

Simpkins explains why he proposed the motion

Mr Simpkins and Mr Randall have formally requested a leadership spill when parliament returns next week.

Mr Simpkins said that he had brought forward the motion for a spill because he believed he was "doing the right thing for the country".

He said his electorate was urging him to make a change in the party's leadership.

"People who I know are extremely worried and no longer feel connected with the Prime Minister," Mr Simpkins told Sky News.

Backing each other ... Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Picture: AP Source: AP

"I am doing this because I don't want the economic vandals — the Labor Party — getting back into power."

Mr Simpkins said he believed Julie Bishop, Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull would stand as leadership candidates.

Mr Simpkins said he had received "a lot of support" from his colleagues for bringing the issue to a head.

Calling on a vote for a spill ... Liberal MP Luke Simpkins. Source: News Limited

"This isn't about powerbrokers," he said.

"I am a man who has no frontbencher ambitions."

"I think the PM will now take the decision and that is to spill the leadership and let it be decided once and for all," Mr Simpkins said.

"My colleagues ... have the opportunity now and they on Tuesday should have the opportunity to either endorse the Prime Minister or seek a new direction."

However, Mr Morrison will not be running for the leadership if a spill occurs according to Sky News, after they spoke with the Social Services Minister today.

Not running ... Scott Morrison is not interested in the leadership. Source: News Corp Australia

Mr Simpkins's motion was delivered to chief whip Philip Ruddock and the Prime Minister's office early this afternoon.

Mr Simpkins, who was elected to parliament in 2007 and is a former police officer telephoned Mr Ruddock and the Prime Minister directly to inform them of his intentions.

Standing with the PM ... Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who opened an Early Leaners Centre at St Peter's Girls' School today. She graduated from there in 1973. Picture: Keryn Stevens Source: News Corp Australia

"I have therefore submitted to the Chief Government Whip a motion to spill the leadership positions of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party. The spill motion should be considered via a secret ballot as the first item of business in our Party Room meeting. The motion was seconded by Don Randall who shares the same views as myself."

He then sent out an email to all MPs.

The email stated the following:

Dear Colleagues,

In the last two weeks I have been inundated with emails and walk ins to my Electorate Office all questioning the direction the Government is being led in. The Knighthood issue was for many the final proof of a disconnection with the people.

These contacts have come from many people that I personally know and are firm supporters — in some cases they are booth workers as well. The last time this outpouring of concern happened was when we were being led to support the Rudd Government's ETS and faced with this erosion of our base support we acted.

I think that we must bring this to a head, and test the support of the leadership in the party room.

I have therefore submitted to the Chief Government Whip a motion to spill the leadership positions of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party. The spill motion should be considered via a secret ballot as the first item of business in our Party Room meeting. The motion was seconded by Don Randall who shares the same views as myself.

I look forward to your support in this matter. It gives you all an opportunity to either endorse the Prime Minister or to seek a new direction.

As I have said in the past, I have no front bench ambitions. I just want to make sure that the economic vandals do not get back into power and our children and grandchildren are not left to pay Labor's bill. I do this because I believe it is in the best interests of the people of our country.

Yours sincerely,

Luke

His email to all Liberal MPs will come as yet another blow to Tony Abbott's precarious hold on the Prime Ministership.

He also issued a media statement this afternoon, which stated: "In recent weeks a great number of people in my electorate have made me aware that they no longer support the Prime Minister. I personally know many of them and have had contact with them for years. They are firm supporters and some are my volunteers. The last time this outpouring of concern happened was when we were being led to support the Rudd Government's ETS and we acted on that concern.

Ahead of the Leadership Spill on February 10, how does Malcolm Turnbull differ from Tony Abbott?

"As I have said in the past, I have no front bench ambitions. I simply want to ensure that the economic vandals do not get back into power, and that our children and grandchildren are not left to pay Labor's bill. I have done this because I believe it is in the best interests of the people of our country.

I believe the spill motion will be supported because it will give my colleagues the chance to either endorse the Prime Minister or to seek a new direction."

Mr Ruddock also issued an email confirmation of the motion to all Liberal MPs.

"The Prime Minister has indicated this motion will be listed for discussion at the Liberal Party Meeting on Tuesday," the notice from Mr Ruddock stated.

Motion confirmed ... the email sent by Philip Ruddock. Source: Supplied

It is understood the Prime Minister did not initially take Mr Simpkins' call and that the MP had to leave a voicemail.

One source close to the push for change said there were enough MPs who now supported a spill.

A majority of the 102 Liberal MPs in the party room need to support any motion for a spill if one is to go ahead.

Liberal MP Andrew Nikolic has branded the move to challenge Mr Abbott as disappointing and divisive.

Does Julie Bishop have what it takes, to be Prime Minister?

Mr Nikolic dismissed the move as the "ill-disciplined and self-interested behaviours that the Australian people explicitly rejected in 2013".

The email was copied to other coalition MPs and senators.

"Your actions are disappointing and divisive," Mr Nikolic said to Mr Simpkins.

"You do not have my support for this." Mr Nikolic, an Abbott loyalist, said he would be arguing strongly against the spill motion.

Christian Porter, the parliamentary secretary to Mr Abbott, said Mr Simpkins and Mr Randall should withdraw their spill motion.

Mr Porter said the duo's motion would not be supported by the majority of their colleagues and that Mr Abbott would survive a leadership vote.

Mr Porter said he had left messages with both Mr Simpkins and Mr Randall but they had not returned calls.

He said their actions were damaging the reputation of the government.

Mr Porter also praised Curtin MHR Julie Bishop and expected her to remain as deputy.

Mr Simpkins, the member for Cowan, is said to have made his decision to call for a spill after

being persuaded by his electorate that change was needed.

Wanting a change ... Don Randall has signed the motion as well. Source: News Limited

A week of rumour and speculation for the Liberals

MPs have gone public with their views on the leadership throughout the week.

In an explosive interview on Wednesday the former assistant treasurer and Liberal party stalwart Arthur Sinodinos expressed his doubts in Tony Abbott and his future leadership.

"Ask me next week comrade," he said when asked if he believed Mr Abbott would still be Prime Minister by the end of next week.

Senator Sinodinos who served as John Howard's chief of staff during his prime ministership said Mr Abbott did not have his "unqualified" support.

Who should be Prime Minister?

West Australian MP Dennis Jensen on Tuesday said Mr Abbott no longer had his support. Queenslanders Warren Entsch and Mal Brough also said they believed the leadership issue needed to be resolved.

Victorian MP Sharman Stone also joined the chorus of MPs calling for the leadership issue to be changed.

"The public's giving me loud and clear messages, they do want to see a change," Dr Stone told the ABC.

TRANSCRIPT: ABBOTT'S DECLARATION TO FIGHT A SPILL

"As you know, two of my colleagues have called for a leadership spill of the two senior positions in our party.

"They've called for a spill of my position as leader and they've called for a spill of Julie Bishop's position as deputy. The first point to make is that they are perfectly entitled to call for this, but the next point to make is that they are asking the partyroom to vote out the people that the electorate voted in, in September 2013.

I want to make this very simple point. We are not the Labor Party. We are not the Labor Party and we are not going to repeat the chaos and the instability of the Labor years, so I have spoken to Deputy Leader Julie Bishop and we will stand together in urging the partyroom to defeat this particular motion and in so doing, and in defeating this motion, to vote in favour of the stability and the team that the people voted for at the election.

We have a strong plan. It's the strong plan that I enunciated at the Press Club this week and we are determined to get on with it, and we will."

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Why Tony Abbott just can’t win

Tony Abbott has stated he and Julie Bishop are united against the spill motion. Courtesy: Sky News

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Source: News Corp Australia

TONY Abbott can't win next week, even if no one appears to contest the leadership against him.

He will be slammed by criticism from his own side which he will find difficult to rebut, and it is hard for a leader to survive that ordeal in the medium term.

It is amounting to a confidence vote he can't expect to win cleanly. Mr Abbott's own colleagues are about to cause more damage to his authority in one day than Labor has managed over 16 months.

And that authority already is disintegrating rapidly. Informed Liberals today scoffed at the Prime Minister's suggestion he had a joint leadership ticket with his deputy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Mr Abbott says Ms Bishop will stand against the spill motion. Source: News Corp Australia

Ms Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull will strike for the leadership if the opportunity appears. Mr Abbott, despite a parade of supportive ministers, is looking lonely.

Mr Abbott argued today his job should not be put on the line because Labor did that with two Prime Ministers and it led to instability and election defeat.

But this isn't comparable to the attacks which removed Kevin Rudd and Julie Bishop. They were palace coups. This is a peasants' revolt.

The detonator was this brief statement lodged with Liberal Whip Philip Ruddock this afternoon: "That the Liberal Party Room resolve, via secret ballot, that the senior positions of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party be declared vacant."

That was the motion from West Australian MP Luke Simpkins, seconded by another West Australian Don Randall, following a public attack on the PM from a third West Australian Dennis Jensen.

All three represent a very conservative flank of the Liberal Party. The gang from out of the West rode into town today and demanded a Liberal leadership shootout. But they forgot bring something: a gun contender.

Julie Bishop has been talked about as a leadership contender. Source: News Corp Australia

If it is to be High Noon for the Prime Minister there has to be someone else, a challenger, and that straight shooter simply hasn't turned up. Not yet.

That means it will be a weekend of confusion for many voters, as well as some distress for many of the 102 MPs who will on Tuesday decide whether Mr Abbott stays or rides into the political sunset.

Most probably the Liberal MPs will keep him as leader, but only after they are forced into a confrontation which can do nothing but further harm the standing of the Prime Minister, and the government.

The first debate Tuesday will be over the spill motion, and then possibly a ballot on the leadership. Both steps would be wretched for the PM.

He is expected to grimly retain his job, but it will no longer be the same Prime Minister who became a Liberal hero by running rampant over Labor in the 2013 election.

Malcolm Turnbull in Tuggerah yesterday. Source: News Corp Australia

And watching this all, bemused if not totally bewildered, will be voters. Understandably some will struggle to sort out the chaos. Nothing is clean cut.

And it happened suddenly, despite the week-long and painful prelude for the Liberals. It was an explosion of bitterness that brought on the showdown.

Prime Minister Abbott said he and Foreign Minister Bishop — another West Australian — will fight the attempt to put the Liberal leadership to a ballot.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has said he won't stand should a ballot be called, which left Communication Minister Turnbull to make his position clear. Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop are expected to be bound by cabinet solidarity to vote against the spill motion.

But should the motion succeed, they might decide previous bets were off.

As said yet another West Australia Liberal and Abbott backer, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann: "The last week hasn't been a good week."

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Video: Shock jock’s bizarre Cahill rant

Tim Cahill has had an uncomfortable interview with Radio king John Laws about his big money move to Shanghai. The Socceroos superstar appears to hang up on Golden Tonsils.

Tim Cahill announcing his signing with Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua FC. Source: News Corp Australia

RADIO shock jock John Laws has been slammed by his listeners for continually asking Socceroos legend Tim Cahill about money in an interview on Thursday.

Laws opened his interview on Sydney's 2SM by saying "good to talk to you, you're a very rich man, Tim", before returning to the topic several times in the interview.

Cahill, who was conducting a series of interviews Thursday via phone from New York, replied "umm, now, I don't understand that question".

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BIZARRE INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The interview was abruptly ended soon after, when the line was disconnected. Later, when Laws was faced with angry feedback from his listeners, he accused Cahill of hanging up and being "bloody rude".

Radio personality John Laws. Source: News Limited

The line of questioning prompted a response from callers and via email, with one angry listener launching an expletive-laden tirade at the veteran broadcaster.

When Laws asked Cahill if he was going to earn a reported $10 million at Shanghai Shenhua, Cahill answered: "I didn't speculate any figures, that's what people have been speculating".

After talking broadly about Cahill's career, Laws returned to the subject of money.

Cahill answered "for me, I don't talk about numbers. I've had big contracts my whole career, I just don't like talking about numbers if they're real or not real" and "whatever offers I've had, I always keep it private".

After Laws quipped, "I suppose we can sum it up by saying you're not short of a dollar", Cahill responded: "I'm someone who doesn't like to talk about money, prefer to focus about what I do on the pitch."

The interview took a weird line of questioning when Laws mentioned that he bumped into the Socceroos celebrating earlier this week, and that they were well behaved.

"You don't go winning a championship like we've had and become the champions of Asia if we were going to be unprofessional," Cahill replied.

But after Laws's strange response — "champions of Asia? It's a big call, Asia's got a lot of people" — the line went dead.

Later on, the broadcaster tried to defend his line of questioning, but said he only asked Cahill about the money once.

"I didn't hark back to it; I made a joke of it at the end when I said I don't think either of us are short of a dollar.

"Isn't that what I said (Laws asked a producer)? Well, let's forget it. I said I don't think either of us are short of a dollar, and he hung up. Bloody rude."

Laws was, from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, one of Australia's highest-rating and best-paid radio hosts, reported to have a personal wealth of $100 million. The 79-year-old returned to the microphone in 2011 at 2SM.

Originally published as Video: Shock jock's bizarre Cahill rant

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The town where everyone got free money

For four glorious years, poverty was eradicated in Dauphin, Canada. Picture: railsr4me Source: Flickr

FORTY years ago, a tiny farming town in Canada was the stage for a groundbreaking social experiment.

Everyone who needed it would get free money.

The effect of the policy was astonishing. Dauphin, Manitoba thrived in almost every way.

Doctor's visits and hospitalisations declined, mental health improved and more teenagers completed high school. It seemed that everyone was happier.

Now, policymakers around the world are again looking at the experiment to see if it could hold the key to our future.

The scheme worked like this: everyone would have a guaranteed annual income, or "Mincome", with monthly cheques supplementing the poorest people's earnings and rewarding them for extra hours.

Fears that a guaranteed income would disincentivise workers proved unfounded.

The only substantial difference in workforce contribution was among new mothers, who tended to stay at home with their babies for longer, and teenagers who no longer had to work to support their families.

It was the largest experiment of its kind, taking place over four years from 1974-79. But despite its success, the project was abandoned and never led to the kind of social change many had hoped it would.

But the idea of a guaranteed income has extraordinary potential to rid society of the universal problem where low-income workers can slave away at several jobs but are unable to escape poverty, and more likely to spiral ever further into debt.

Many of the town's residents, pictured at a 2013 festival, remember the experiment as improving their quality of life. Picture: Robyn Hanson Source: Flickr

Switzerland is poised to vote on a monthly stipend for its citizens, while the Indian government is replacing aid programs with cash transfers.

There have been other minimum income experiments, but Dauphin was a rare case in which everyone in town who was eligible would take part.

Canadian social scientist Evelyn Forget wrote a paper on Mincome in 2011, called "The Town With No Poverty".

She found that the effects of the experiment extended beyond the eligible families (those with an income of below $12,000), describing it as a "social multiplier effect" in an interview with Vice.

For example, if a student was afforded the ability to stay in school because of the minimum income, their friends whose family were not in the program might be influenced to stay in school too.

There were fewer visits to the doctor or to hospital, and fewer cases of mental health problems. Picture: Mike Nowak Source: Flickr

Despite the fears of a dip in labour, Forget says the beauty of the Dauphin experiment was that "there is always an incentive to work more hours rather than less."

Every dollar received from other sources would reduce benefits by only fifty cents, so if you worked another hour, you would keep 50 per cent of your benefit as well.

The government at the time was left-wing and progressive, but the idea has strong support from conservative policymakers too. They prefer it to traditional welfare systems, and advocate its simplicity in replacing myriad other sources of benefits with a base income.

The idea is also gaining traction as work becomes both more flexible and more precarious, education costs soar and wages stagnate.

"A relatively modest GAI can improve population health suggesting the possibility of health system savings," reads Forget's persuasive paper.

The experiment on this isolated country town remains the largest of its kind. Picture: Mike Nowak Source: Flickr

Some recipients used their money to pay for essentials; others to increase their earning potential, by buying a new car, for example.

But one of the biggest benefits was an increased sense of wellbeing.

Forget claims that many social services are based on connecting people with stable jobs, while in fact, young people are increasingly in part-time or contract work without any security.

"Most important for an agriculturally dependent town with a lot of self-employment, Mincome offered stability and predictability," writes Forget. "Families knew they could count on at least some support, no matter what happened to agricultural prices or the weather. They knew that sudden illness, disability or unpredictable economic events would not be financially devastating."

Almost everyone who spoke to Forget about living in Dauphin at the time said the experiment had been overwhelmingly positive, and had improved their quality of life.

The world may still be some distance by accepting this sort of radical policy.

Whether the world could accept it might depend on whether we agree with Dauphin's motto: "Everything you deserve".

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Is Tony Abbott’s support slipping?

Tony Abbott's leadership remains under pressure as a backbench MP says he'll support a leadership spill.

Leadership crisis ... more than 30 backbenchers are said to be agitating for a change. Source: AAP

AS speculation over the Liberal leadership continues, a senior party figure has distanced himself from the embattled Prime Minister.

Speaking to Sky News, Senator Arthur Sinodinos stated that Tony Abbott did not have his "unconditional support".

"I've always supported Mr Abbott but that support ongoing is not unconditional," Mr Sinodinos said.

The one-time Chief of Staff for former Prime Minister John Howard is the most senior party member to date to give credence to reports of leadership instability, as other Cabinet members rushed to proclaim their support for Mr Abbott.

Mr Sinodinos said he could not speak for his colleagues, but when asked whether Mr Abbott would still be leader next week, he replied: "Comrade, come and ask me next week."

The former Assistant Treasurer predicted that, in future, "the backbench will be a lot more assertive in puttings its views forward".

"Fairness in how we do things is going to be very important in framing the next budget," he said.

Asserting views ... Senator Arthur Sinodinos has stated his support for the Prime Minister is 'not unconditional'. Source: News Corp Australia

The Senator's comments came after rumours emerged — and were just as swiftly rebutted — that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull had been making calls to MPs asking them if they would vote for him in a leadership ballot.

The ABC political presenter Julia Baird tweeted that two Liberal MPs confirmed they had been contacted by Mr Turnbull asking them if they would vote for him in a leadership ballot.

However Mr Turnbull's office denied he was trying to secure numbers.

News Corp Australia has been unable to confirm Ms Baird's report.

A number of Liberal MPs denied Mr Turnbull had been actively campaigning for support

"He hasn't called me and I'd be surprised if that was true," one MP said.

"Not true," another texted.

Under fire ... a troubled looking Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

Another said: "I'm not convinced the story is true".

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull today said he had not been canvassing the leadership but did confirm to the ABC that MPs have been calling Mr Turnbull to discuss the leadership issue.

Queensland MP Jane Prentice, who on the weekend said the issue of leadership needed to be looked at, told News Corp Mr Turnbull had never spoken to her about leadership ambitions.

BACKBENCH REVOLTS: Abbott leadership on life support

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CHARM OFFENSIVE: Mrs Abbott plays First Wife's card

Possible challenge ... Malcolm Turnbull is said to have phoned MPs asking for support. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

"I've never spoken to Malcolm about leadership," she said.

"Malcolm has been one of the most loyal and supportive members of the Abbott government."

West Australian Liberal Senator Chris Back said Mr Turnbull had not spoken to him directly.

He said the way his colleagues were treating the issues within the party was akin to an "oversized reality television show" and urged his colleagues to wait until they were locked in a room on Tuesday to air their grievances.

Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald also said that he hadn't been called by Mr Turnbull.

He said that there should be no spill on Tuesday because it was not the Liberal way.

"That is the Labor way," Senator Macdonald told News Corp Australia.

"And in my view any such spill would fail. We need to carefully, maturely and selflessly consider all aspects of the federal implications of the Queensland and Victorian elections and other 'barnacles' at the federal level and do what is right for Australia."

Senator Macdonald said if the party did not change its approach federally "that will not happen".

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott has not directly ruled out bringing on a spill of leadership positions when MPs return to Parliament next week amid continued speculation his job is on the line.

Asked directly by 2GB's Ray Hadley if he would bring on a spill when the party room meets next Tuesday, Mr Abbott simply said he wanted to avoid the "chaos of the Labor years".

"I am determined to deliver steady, stable, solid, dependable government," the Prime Minister said.

"The last thing we should do is go anywhere near the rabble of the Labor Party years.

The development came after Treasurer Joe Hockey dared all MPs unhappy with Tony Abbott's leadership to make their views public.

Mr Hockey issued his challenge to his colleagues in the wake of three backbenchers declaring yesterday the PM did not have their support.

Who should be Prime Minister?

The Treasurer said today that the discontent was just from "three or four" MPs but that if more were unhappy they should put their name to their concerns.

"If there are dozens, come out dozens," Mr Hockey told reporters.

News Corp revealed on Sunday more than 30 backbenchers were said to be agitating for a change.

Describing the PM's position as "terminal", former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said a spill of leadership positions in the federal party was desperately needed.

Taking it all in her stride ... Foreign Affairs Minister ran into Parliament House this morning amid controversy about a government leadership spill. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

JEFF KENNETT: We need strong leaders big on economic reform

The Liberal party elder said while he believed Mr Abbott was a good man, he could not continue in his current position.

"Sadly the realisation has dawned on politicians that his leadership is terminal and this needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so the party can move on," Mr Kennett told ABC radio.

Show your hands ... Treasurer Joe Hockey talking to the media at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: News Corp Australia

"I feel very sorry for Tony, he's a good man but the reality is most of where we are as a government is self-inflicted."

Mr Kennett said federal issues did contribute to the disastrous loss in Queensland and that if there was not a leadership spill on Tuesday, Mike Baird's NSW government could face the same fate.

"It could be at risk if this debate continues."

Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull are being touted as the top leadership contenders.

Ms Bishop yesterday ruled out a challenge after reports that she failed to do so when she and the Prime Minister dined together on Sunday.

Malcolm in the middle ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives at Parliament this morning. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said Ms Bishop was "insulted" by calls for her to defend her loyalty to Tony Abbott.

Mr Pyne said it took the Foreign Minister so long to rule out challenging Tony Abbott because she "felt she didn't need to prove her loyalty".

"I think she was insulted, a little offended a bit by the notion that she wasn't totally loyal to Tony Abbott," Mr Pyne told the Nine Network.

Under the pump ... Prime Miniser Tony Abbott with his wife Margie. Source: News Corp Australia

His comments came as part of a media blitz of cabinet ministers in support of Tony Abbott this morning.

Joe Hockey, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Andrew Laming and Josh Frydenberg all came out in support of Mr Abbott in the media.

Leadership tensions hit fever pitch yesterday when three backbenchers publicly revealed Mr Abbott no longer had their support.

West Australian MP Dennis Jensen was the first to reveal he was no longer loyal to Mr Abbott, followed by Queenslander Mal Brough saying the PM did not have his unqualified support and Warren Entsch commenting that he believed the leadership issue needed to be brought to a head when Parliament resumes on Tuesday.

Cabinet will meet again for the second day in Canberra today.

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Taiwan air crash: First deaths confirmed

This extreme close-up shows a TransAsia Airways aircraft crashing into the Keelung River in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Credit: Channel NewsAsia Singapore.

Rescue operation underway ... The TransAsia Airways plane lies partly submerged in the Keelung River in New Taipei City. Picture: New Taipei City Fire Department Source: Supplied

A PASSENGER plane with 58 people on board plunged into a river after clipping a road bridge outside Taiwan's capital, with 27 people rescued and others trapped inside.

The number of fatalities are unclear, but the Taiwanese Civil Aviation Authority said in a press conference that there were nine confirmed deaths, 18 people were injured, and 31 people who were unaccounted for. Since then the Chinese Xinhua news agency has stated 12 people have died.

There were five crew members and two passengers were children.

The TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane was on a domestic flight when it hit a road bridge before ploughing into the Keelung River in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Lives lost ... the latest TransAsia Air plane crash in Taipei. Picture: Taiwan's CTI News/Twitter Source: Supplied

CNA said the flight from Taipei to the outlying island of Kinmen lost contact with flight controllers at 10.55am local time.

At least 170 emergency staff have been deployed - including ambulances, fire engines and watercraft - to assist in the rescue operation.

Rescuers are still at the crash site working to free trapped passengers and recover parts of the wreckage.

Fatalities rise ... rescue personnel work to free passengers from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Television images showed rescuers standing on large sections of broken wreckage trying to pull passengers out of the plane with ropes. Those who were rescued — including two children -- were put in dinghies and taken to the shore.

Some were then loaded on stretchers and all 27 rescued have been taken to hospital, reports said.

Survivors ... passengers from the TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

They have also released the names of those on board.

The plane was being flown by Liao Jianzong and Liu Zizhong, and a third trainee pilot called Hong Binzhong.

As many as 31 passengers were from mainland China, Taiwan's TVBS news broadcaster said. Passengers on board were from Taiwan and China.

Wu Jun Hong, the city's chief firefighter, has described the rescue effort for reporters at the scene of the accident.

Wu said the plane is 27m long and a crane is being used to retrieve the head of the plane from the water.

Waiting for help .. passengers in the Transasia Air plane crash. Picture: Taiwan's CTI News/Twitter Source: Supplied

Parts of the wrecked fuselage of the turboprop ATR 72 jutted out of the Keelung River just a couple dozen metres from the shore near the city's downtown Sungshan airport.

The main section of fuselage was on its side, missing a wing.

Rescuers clustered around the plane in rubber boats more than two hours after the crash, and could be seen pulling carry-on luggage from an open plane door.

Moving the injured ... a rescue crew carries a passenger from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane. Picture: Ashley Pon/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Rescuing survivors ... a passenger from a TransAsia ATR 72-600 turboprop plane that crash-landed into a river outside Taiwan's capital Taipei on a stretcher. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Since the crash, terrifiying images have also emerged of how the plane went off course before it hit the bridge and then crashed into the river.

Terrifying images ... A montage of dashboard cam images showing the moments before the TransAsia Airways plane crash in New Taipei City. Source: Missxoxo168 / Twitter Source: Twitter

Taiwanese TV stations continue to broadcast live footage of rescue workers in life vests and yellow helmets surrounding the plane's partially-submerged fuselage in inflatable rafts.

A RESCUE operation is underway for passengers trapped after a TransAsia Airways plane, with 58 people on board, crashed and sunk. Credit: TVBS.

Pictures circulating social media also showed some damage the plane did to a taxi after it clipped the car before it slammed through the wall of a motorway and then crashed into the Keelung River.

The driver survived the incident and was taken to hospital for further medical treatment.

Close call ... a taxi was clipped by the plane as it crashed. Picture: TVBS/YouTube Source: Supplied

On the scene ... rescue personnel put an injured passenger into an ambulance. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The New Taipei City Fire Department has dispatched five rescue teams, equipped with speed boats, to the accident site near the Nanyang Bridge in Xizhi district, CNA said.

The aeroplane was flying to the offshore island of Kinmen and had only just left Taipei Songshan Airport when the accident happened.

The crash site ... rescue teams work to free people from a TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 turboprop airplane that crashed into the Keelung River. Picture: Ashley Pon/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TransAsia Airways was involved in another fatal crash less than a year ago, while attempting to land at Magong Airport on July 23. Forty-seven of the 58 people on board the ATR-72-500 were killed, and seven seriously injured when the plane crashed at the end of the runway and slid into residential buildings.

Prior to that, the Taiwan based airline was involved in a runway collision with a truck in March 2003. All 175 passengers and crew survived the incident at Tainan Airport when the truck trespassed the tarmac into the path of the A320.

In December 2002, a cargo flight operated by TransAsia crashed killing the two crew when severe icing disabled the main components of the ATR-72-200.

Owned by Goldsun Constructions and Development in Taiwan, TransAsia has a fleet of 23 aircraft and flies to 33 domestic and international destinations.

The airline has been operating as a commercial carrier since 1951. The company is currently owned by Golden Development & Construction Co Ltd.

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‘People ran outside burning’

WA fire authorities have confirmed an explosion at a Perth shopping centre has killed at least one person.

THERE are reports one person is dead and up to nine people have been injured after an explosion at Galleria shopping centre in Morley, in Perths northeast.

A blackened wall after the shopping mall explosion: Picture: Oliver Peterson/Twitter Source: Supplied

ONE person is dead and up to nine injured after an explosion at Galleria shopping centre in Morley, in Perth's northeast.

Witnesses say they saw people "burning from head to toe" as they ran from the blast.

It is believed that a transformer exploded near a Woolworths at about 9.30am, although police said the cause of the explosion is unknown.

Three men have been taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious burns and are all in a critical condition, with one suffering burns to 80 per cent of his body.

The blast appears to have blown out windows and doors. Picture: Bodhan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

At least 10 fire crews rushed to the scene. Source: News Corp Australia

It is believed that a transformer exploded near a Woolworths. Source: News Corp Australia

Shoppers watch as emergency crews deal with the aftermath. Source: Supplied

St John Ambulance said half a dozen people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and shock. Some of the injured were electrical contractors who had been inside the Woolworths.

A woman who was trying to assist the injured was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for smoke inhalation.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said the man with burns to 80 per cent of his body was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived. "All of these people are in for a long stint in hospital," the spokesman added.

One witness, Christine Saarinsen, told Perth Now she had seen "a wall of flames'' coming out of the side of the Morley Galleria and at least three people on fire. She said she heard an expolsion like a gas bottle going off.

Firefighters, police and ambulance crew at the Morley Galleria after the fatal explosion near Woolworths. Picture: Emily Piesse/Twitter Source: Supplied

One person died and three were taken to hospital for treatment. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

All three victims at Royal Perth Hospital are in a critical condition. Source: News Corp Australia

"We ran out and saw the flames coming out of the building," she said. "We saw these three guys burning, one guy was trying to strip his clothes off, another was rolling on the ground.

"Another ran and collapsed under a tree on his stomach. Some of the doctors ran out with blankets. The guy under the tree was screaming his head off. It was not a nice sight."

Police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan also told Fairfax radio that police received a report that two people were on fire.

WA Police said in a statement: "One person is confirmed deceased, and three others are being treated for injuries they received, one of which is in a critical condition. It is believed all four persons were working in an area near the electrical transformer.

"The cause of the explosion is unknown and WA Police will be working with WorkSafe and EnergySafety personnel as part of the investigation. A report will be prepared for the Coroner."

Police have ruled out lightning from a severe electrical storm as the cause.

A Royal Perth Hospital spokeswoman confirmed to news.com.au that three people had been admitted and were in critical condition.

Another six people were reportedly treated at scene and may also require hospital treatment.

Witness Chris Spencer, a primary school teacher from Perth's Northern Suburbs, told the Eastern Reporter he had arrived at the the Galleria shortly after the blast. He said sections of the shopping centre near Target and Woolworths had been completely blocked off.

"There were four or five people in high-vis vests looking very sombre and not allowing people to go through," he said. "All the shops around have been closed and the owners are out on their phones and sort of looking a bit nervous and anxious, and there was one lady who was in tears outside the shop near where it happened."

Shopping centre worker Jody Turner said she felt the vibration of the explosion from her nearby home. She rushed to her workplace, Barbecues Galore, and said she was horrified by the scene.

Tegan Chick, 24, was in a nearby car park when she heard screaming. "By the time I came around there was a large number of members of the public and doctors from the surgery helping," she told Perth Now. "There were a few people lying on the ground with burns ... some people got the fire hydrant open. I was filling up water bottles and directing traffic away. Everyone worked really well together."

An ABC journalist tweeted that even mothers with prams sprang into action to help the injured, with bystanders using soaked clothing to treat burn victims.

Twitter user @lilmissatheist said her husband saw people on fire. She tweeted: "My husband just witnessed the horrific aftermath of the Morley Galleria explosion. Poor men on fire. Much sympathy to the victims."

Woolworths has released a statement saying that the store was evacuated following an explosion.

"This incident occurred on Morley Galleria property controlled by Federation Centres," the statement said. "It did not occur in the Woolworths store or area managed by Woolworths.

"Our thoughts are with those injured in the incident. Unfortunately we understand WA Police have confirmed there has been a fatality and our thoughts are with family and friends."

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has cordoned off the scene. A spokeswoman for the department told news.com.au a "large number" of fire crews were at the scene. At least 10 crews rushed to the shopping centre at 9.37am (Perth time) and the fire was extinguished by 10am. EnergySafe and WorkSafe will investigate the incident.

MORE TO COME.

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This McDonald’s burger just won’t die

The last McDonald's cheeseburger and fries is on display in a hostel in Iceland after McDonald's closed all stores in the country.

A live webcam offers people an opportunity to watch the meal decay. But it looks virtually the same as the day it was purchased. Picture: Reykjavik Bus Hostel. Source: Supplied

THIS McDonald's burger looks exactly the same as the day it was ordered.

Five years later, it hasn't aged a bit.

Hejortur Smarason purchased the meal in 2009 after learning McDonald's would be closing its doors in the northern European country for the last time.

But instead of devouring it and savouring the moment, he decided to keep it to see how long it would last.

But even he was surprised to find that five years later, the burger and fries looks exactly the same on the day he bought it.

The golden arches announced it would close all three franchises at midnight on October 31, 2009 saying the "operational complexity of doing business in Iceland combined with the very challenging economic climate in the country" made business there unviable.

The GFC caused Iceland's banks to collapse and relying on a $US10 billion aid package to survive.

And while the economy may have suffered a decay, the burger meal, hasn't as Smarason's little experiment has shown.

He said he decided to try the experiment because he wanted to see if rumours he heard about McDonald's food not decaying were true.

"I had heard some­thing about McDonald's never decaying so I just wanted to find out for myself whether this was true or not," he told Icelandic paper mbl.is.

And it has indeed stayed perfectly preserved.

After keeping it in a plastic bag for three years, he decided to donate the meal to the National Museum of Iceland, where it was displayed.

The museum then returned it to him, and he then passed it to his friends who run the Bus Hostel Reykjavik, where it now sits proudly on show.

However, the hostel have gone one better and set up a webcam so "people can watch it decay" — the only problem being it doesn't appear to change at all so you're in for a long show.

"Now it will be on display at Bus Hostel Reykjavik in Iceland, not only for those who drop in, but also with a live video stream where you watch the hamburger rot and decay on live camera," the hostel warns.

"You might have to be patient though to see any changes."

But the Icelandic man may not be the first person to put this to the test and probably won't be the last.

American man David Whipple kept a McDonald's burger for 14 years and found it looked the same as the day it was cooked.

Mr Whipple, from Utah, said he bought the burger back in 1999 and had originally planned to keep it for a month to demonstrate the power of preservatives and never expected it to last as long as it did.

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From science teacher to extreme survivalist

Phil Breslin catches a shark with his bare hands. Source: Supplied

A QUEENSLAND science teacher has left the safety of the classroom in order survive some of Australia and New Zealand's most hostile environments.

Phil Breslin has battled exhaustion and fought currents on a makeshift raft while crossing crocodile and shark infested waters.

Phil Breslin has stepped away from the humble life of a teacher to make survival documentaries. Source: Supplied

He has trekked some of our most rugged outback terrain in search of food and battled freezing conditions in some of New Zealand's most unforgiving landscapes.

But the schoolteacher claims he isn't an adrenalin junkie looking for a fix, rather he is on a mission to educate people on survivalism and traditional cultures through National Geographic's upcoming program Wild Survivor.

"The scariest moment for me came when I was navigating a raft through 12 metre currents while narrowly avoiding whirlpools and underwater objects," he said.

"At times I thought the raft might split and because I wasn't wearing a life jacket I would have been sucked under the water with no chance of survival.
"It doesn't matter what health and safety regulations are put in place because the natural world doesn't abide by risk assessments."

This philosophy would have undoubtably been in the back of his mind when the 31-year-old pulled a large shark out of waters at the Kimberly with his bare hands.
"Nature is a harsh creature and you have to show it the proper respect, so when I handled the shark I played to my strengths.

"The thing about water is it makes our speed, intelligence and agility futile.

"That's why I made sure to battle the shark in shallow waters. If I was neck deep that could have gone very differently."

Apart from the obvious predators he faced, Breslin said his greatest nemesis was the cold temperatures in New Zealand's Rotorua region.

"When I crossed the river in New Zealand it was the temperature I was concerned about," he said.

"If I fell into the water I would have almost certainly blacked out from the cold.

"A lot of Australians grow up in a land of deadly reptiles and think New Zealand would be a breeze, but having to deal with freezing conditions 24/7 is far from easy."

Science and his indigenous heritage played a vital role for Phil Breslin. Source: Supplied

After feeling constrained with the traditional high school working environment, Breslin approached the Indigenous Schooling Support Unit and developed the Deadly Science land management course.

Mainly based outdoors, the program connected young people to the land by linking traditional knowledge and values with modern environmental science concepts.

It was during this period he flirted with the concept of a documentary television series.

"I made couple of small videos to use in the classroom as part of the course," he said.

"Then I thought why limit these concepts to a classroom when I could literally reach millions of people."

Channelling the competitive nature derived from growing up with six brothers, Breslin enlisted the help of a few close friends and together they set out on a journey that would drastically alter the course of his life.

"We travelled across the country and filmed a demo tape that was more of a cultural journey than just the survivalism you normally see on television," he said.

"I'm not Bear Grylls, I'm not even a survival expert and I haven't been trained by the Special Forces. I was just a guy who grew up in North Queensland.

"No one even knew how to use a camera properly, but we somehow managed to piece something together and sent it off to Prospero Productions."

As testament to his hard work, the demo reel was passed onto National Geographic and the show got the green light.

Phil Breslin will survive the traditional way in some of Australia and New Zealand's most extreme environments. Source: Supplied

The schoolteacher said being an indigenous Australian and holding a degree in science helped him adapt to the survival situations.

"Everything I have learnt has come from textbooks, my own studies and traditional owners of the land," he said.

"Science is involved in every aspect of life and it's just a matter of unpacking that information.

"I guarantee you will discover that science is a universal language with shared concepts and principles as long as you are willing to listen, look and learn."

In regards to school teaching, the survivalist thinks he'll continue on this path before making a return to the classroom.

"I find the classroom too structured and I am happy to be given an opportunity to make something educational," he said.

"As well as being a living version of my PowerPoint, I am able to take my shirt off and we all know you can't do that in a traditional workplace."

Wild Survivor will premiere on National Geographic Monday 16 March at 9.30pm.

Can Aussie science teacher Phil Breslin survive Australia and New Zealands most dangerous regions? Courtesy: Nat Geo

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Bali Nine duo in next execution round

Indonesia's A-G says a review lodged for the Bali Nine drug smugglers is unlikely to stop their execution.

Bali Nine mastermind ... Andrew Chan's brother Michael and his mother Helen visit to Kerobokan jail. The Indonesian President has reject both Clemency of Andrew Chan an Myuran Sukumaran. Source: Supplied

INDONESIA'S attorney-general has confirmed Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are in the next group of death row prisoners to be executed.

HM Prasetyo last week said Australians were among the foreign drug offenders in line for executions, but didn't reveal their names.

Asked on Monday if Chan and Sukumaran were on the list for the next round, he told reporters: "Yes, included in the next round." The timing was yet to be determined, he said.

On death row ... Myuran Sukumaran. Source: News Limited

Waiting for news ... Andrew Chan. Source: News Limited

The Bali Nine ringleaders are next in line for the firing squad despite their lawyers on Friday filing an application for a judicial review.

Their avenues for appealing the 2006 death sentences were exhausted when President Joko Widodo refused them clemency.

Last chance ... lawyers for two of the Bali Nine have launched an appeal against the death sentence for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumara. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro Source: News Corp Australia

The attorney-general said various things had to be considered before setting a date for the next round of executions, including the weather.

"We're just waiting for the right time," he said.

"Their judicial aspects have been finished and certainly, we are now in the stage of preparation for their death penalty execution."

Mr Prasetyo said his department was working with the National Narcotics Board (BNN) to fight drug crime.

"As AG, I've instructed all prosecutors in Indonesia to give the maximum penalty to narcotics dealers and traffickers, based on the facts and evidence found in court," he said.

In his defence of the death penalty, Mr Joko uses BNN research that finds up to 50 Indonesians are dying drug-related deaths each day.

The attorney-general echoed the president's comments about a "drugs emergency".

"It's concerning and sad that ... Indonesia is truly in a state of a drugs emergency," he told reporters.

"This is a fact we need to understand and contemplate together."

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