IT was during his regular 6am phone hook-up yesterday with his senior advisers and media staff that Tony Abbott first heard Australians had been aboard flight MH17. 
 
He was shocked, sources said, but the Prime Minister immediately took command, ordering an emergency meeting of his National Security Committee. His office’s first calls were to National Security Adviser Margot McCarthy, DFAT officials and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet head Ian Watt.

As staff and officials scrambled, the RAAF was ordered to re-task Mr Abbott’s plane as diary officials tore up the daily schedule. By 7am, all staff had swung into action. Arrangements were made for all state premiers to be brought into the loop and a meeting to brief Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was scheduled.

By 10am Mr Abbott had spoken to Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and calls were in for other world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.

The PM then asked Australia’s Ambassador to the UN Gary Quinlan, in Australia for a midterm briefing, for a detailed account on the situation as the full contingent of the NSC began to assemble — some using secure telephone lines from offices interstate.

By then it dawned on the PM’s security advisers that Australia had lost more citizens than any member of the UN Security Council. The PM demanded every effort be made to push the UNSC for an urgent resolution to demand access to the crash site.


Authorities feared a repeat of the Pan AM Lockerbie terrorist­ disaster, which remained a mystery for decades, if they were denied immediate access to the MH17 crash site.


At 11am the PM entered parliament and rose to describe the attack as an “unspeakable crime”.

“We can’t restore them to life but we can and will do everything to support them in this sad and bitter time because that is the Australian way — we help in times of trouble. We grieve for all but we especially grieve and pray for the Australians who lost their lives,” he said.


Mr Abbott pointed a finger directly at Russian-backed rebels in east Ukraine.

Mr Shorten described it as a “tyrannical act”.


By early evening, the PM had also spoken to Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia and UK PM David Cameron to offer condolences for the loss of life suffered by both countries. Sources said Mr Abbott also secured support for a strident course of action through the UN to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The reaction from world leaders was swift.

Mr Obama described it as a “terrible tragedy” but drew short of pointing a finger at any involvement by Russian separatists: “I have directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government. The US will offer any assistance we can to help determine what happened and why. And, as a country, our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the passengers, wherever they call home.”

US Senator John McCain warned of “incredible repercussions if Russian forces were responsible.

“If it is the result of either separatist or Russian actions mistakenly believing that this is a Ukrainian warplane, I think there’s going to be hell to pay and there should be,” the Arizona Republican said.

Despite evidence pointing to the use of a Russian-made surface-to-air missile by pro-Russian fighters, Russian President Vladimir Putin said such a theory was stupid.

The Kremlin issued a statement offering Mr Putin’s “sincere words of sympathy”.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/prime-minister-tony-abbotts-decisive-a...

Heroic.  Epic.  'Tall glass of water.'

labor are corrupt wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2014 at 10:49pm:


Yep , not a stitch of progress in the polls, still, I repeat still lower than Gillard at her worst.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2014 at 11:10pm:



Most expect poor polls at the end of an unpopular governments tenure, Tony has set a new record in 10months from an incoming government that has never been seen in the Australian political history languishing on 30%. I am afraid armpit in will take nothing short of a 21st century miracle to win an election with the game of tones at the helm. No amount of chest beating to Putin will make a difference, Putin will be giving Tony the same reaction he got in indo, talk to the hand Abbott you eeejit. All the swords and shields won't save him , for winter is coming for sir Anthony Abbott of Warringah.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2014 at 11:10pm:

That's a lie.

Quote:


What is the source for this material. Liberal Party HQ. of course he was "shocked", Of course he "immediately took command." Imagine if the source was identified.

Liberal party apparatchik rang to say Tony was shocked by the news but stoically took command.

What I love is the admission that Abbott is a media driven PM. Who would have guessed.

By then it dawned on the PM’s security advisers that Australia had lost more citizens than any member of the UN Security Council.

Wouldn't have dawned on Abbott, he still wishing his mother had left him a POME.