Eric Abetz calls for Tony Abbott to return in Malcolm Turnbull cabinet reshuffle
Liberal senator Eric Abetz suggests that Tony Abbott should be restored to a prominent frontbench position in Malcolm Turnbull's upcoming ministry reshuffle. Courtesy ABC NewsRadio.
Malcolm Turnbull looks at February reshuffle
Minister Jamie Briggs quits ministry
Jamie Briggs, an ambitious MP who overstepped the mark
Minister Mal Brough stands aside
Malcolm Turnbull is being urged to restore former prime minister Tony Abbott to a prominent frontbench position when the Prime Minister reshuffles his ministry - likely in February following the resignations of junior ministers Jamie Briggs and Mal Brough.
I think if Tony Abbott were to go back in the Cabinet that would be a good way to heal the wounds of the past.
Nationals Senator John Williams
Mr Briggs' career as a junior minister ended on Tuesday when he resigned, revealing he had been involved in a late-night incident with a female public servant in a bar in Hong Kong where he was visiting in his capacity as Cities Minister late last month.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was sent to the backbench following the September leadership spill.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was sent to the backbench following the September leadership spill. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Briggs was partying with his chief of staff, Stuart Eaton, at the time. He said he did nothing illegal, but resigned after accepting it was an "error of professional judgment" after the public servant lodged a complaint about his behaviour.
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Mr Turnbull used the cover of Mr Briggs sensational revelations to announce that Mr Brough would be standing aside as Special Minister of State because of the ongoing police investigation into the James Ashby affair, after weeks of sustained pressure from Labor in Parliament.
Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said Mr Brough's departure was the more significant of the two and questioned why Mr Turnbull had waited so long to drop his beleaguered minister. "This incident certainly shows a lack of judgment," she said.
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz says Tony Abbott should return to the frontbench in a cabinet reshuffle.
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz says Tony Abbott should return to the frontbench in a cabinet reshuffle. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Conservative Senator Eric Abetz, who was dropped from the cabinet in Mr Turnbull's September reshuffle, said on Wednesday when politicians "mucked up" it was their families who suffered the most.
"I feel extremely for the families of the two gentlemen involved, we in politics we are the volunteers, we're the ones who go into battles but when we muck up it is the families and children that suffer," Senator Abetz told the ABC on Wednesday.
Senator Abetz urged Mr Turnbull to heal the divisions caused by the September coup and restoring Mr Abbott to the cabinet would be important for unity within the Liberal Party.
Mal Brough and Jamie Briggs both lost their portfolios on Tuesday.
Mal Brough and Jamie Briggs both lost their portfolios on Tuesday.
"I hope that he stays in the Parliament and I hope that there will be a place for him, a prominent place for him in a future ministry, should he decide to stay ... and I think the Australian people would welcome that," he said.
"Just as much as when other leaders have been deposed they have been rehabilitated into cabinet or shadow cabinet and I think that is important for the unity of the party, if that is at all possible."
Nationals Senator John Williams backed Senator Abetz's call, describing Mr Abbott as a man of experience and compassion.
"I think if Tony Abbott were to go back in the cabinet that would be a good way to heal the wounds of the past," Senator Williams told ABC Radio National.
February reshuffle
Speculation is mounting that Mr Turnbull will reshuffle his frontbench in February after Nationals Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss makes a decision on his own future. Many Nationals privately believe Mr Truss, the Infrastructure Minister, will retire, paving the way for Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to become Nationals leader.
"If Warren is to make an announcement that he's going to stand down, and that's a big if ... then of course that would be a time for a reshuffle, but that might not eventuate," Senator Williams said.
If Mr Joyce were to keep his own portfolio it would leave open a cabinet vacancy and the two junior ministerial positions vacated by Mr Briggs and Mr Brough. Currently their responsibilities are being divided between Environment Minister Greg Hunt, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Defence Minister Marise Payne.
Mr Turnbull's first cabinet line-up, announced in September after he toppled Mr Abbott as leader, was widely seen as rewarding the plotters who aided his rise to the top job, including Peter Hendy, James McGrath, Scott Ryan, Wyatt Roy and Mitch Fifield.
Conservatives in particular, smarted at the dumping of veteran cabinet ministers Kevin Andrews and Mr Abetz without elevating young up and coming right-wingers like Angus Taylor or Zed Seselja.
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