Tony Abbott set to become Liberal president unopposed
tony abbott is set to become the new federal Liberal party president after being the only nominee for the role. His election will be confirmed at the party’s federal council meeting in Melbourne next weekend, giving the former prime minister an unpaid post overseeing the party’s administrative wing and campaigning infrastructure.
Abbott and Angus Taylor
Abbott said at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on Friday, "I am thinking about doing everything I can to help Angus Taylor to be the 32nd prime minister of Australia." He added, "I think that the best thing that I can do towards that is to help him, by, if the coming Federal Council so chooses, being the President of the party."
He also said, "I believe it is my duty to serve the Liberal party to the best of my ability: if the Liberal party calls, and it seems that what they’re calling for is for someone such as me to be the president." Abbott lost his Sydney seat of Warringah at the 2019 election and was the 28th prime minister.
Federal council in Melbourne
Charlie Taylor formally nominated Abbott for the presidency, while Alexander Downer chose instead to run for one of the vice-president’s positions. The federal presidency works at arm’s length from the parliamentary party and is typically away from the media spotlight.
Moderate Liberals said they fear Abbott will use the role to act as a de-facto leader and pull the party further to the right on issues such as immigration. Abbott will succeed the former South Australian premier John Olsen, and the confirmation in Melbourne next weekend follows a week in which the party’s internal contest narrowed to a single nominee.
Victorian Liberal council
The Victorian Liberal party state council will meet in Melbourne on Saturday, with the Victorian Liberal party executive up for re-election. Party president Philip Davis is expected to step down, and former federal director Brian Loughnane is the sole candidate to replace him.
The immediate test for Abbott is next weekend’s federal council meeting, where the party will formalize a presidency that now carries a clear message for Angus Taylor’s team: the administrative role is filled, and the debate over how active Abbott will be in party affairs will begin as soon as the vote is recorded.
