Economy
STATE: Mass resignations, says Eric Abetz. Not so, says PM. Cadbury. DPIWE dramas …
DUMPED senior government minister Eric Abetz has called for unity among Liberal Party members after news of mass resignations in response to the change in Federal leadership.
He said it was understandable that Malcolm Turnbull’s toppling of former prime minister Tony Abbott had left some members disenfranchised, but the Hobart-based senator wanted to reassure followers their voice would still be heard.
“With calls for the formation of a new party and hundreds of resignations from the Liberal Party, I call on members to remain as members of our party,” Senator Abetz said in a newsletter to members today.
• ABC Radio reports state Lib President Geoff Page as saying there were only 10 resignations and eight new members were signed up …
• AAP: Malcolm Turnbull disputes Eric Abetz claim hundreds are leaving Liberal Party MALCOLM Turnbull has disputed claims hundreds of members are leaving the Liberal Party after his elevation to prime minister. Eric Abetz, dumped from the frontbench in a ministry reshuffle following the toppling of Tony Abbott, has warned of a mass exodus in a newsletter to supporters. But Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Thursday his feedback was that people were “very happy with the transition”, adding that members come and go in political parties.
• The Age: Tony Abbott pleads the Fifth Amendment when asked if he’s forgiven Malcolm Turnbull
• Andrew Wilkie: A statement on more Cadbury job losses
• Scott Bacon: Liberals need to make amends for Cadbury mess
• Matthew Groom: Cadbury’s announcement
• Richard Colbeck: Cadbury visitor centre
• ABC: Brain drain: science cutbacks driving highly skilled Tasmanians out of state
*Pic: Environment Department pic of a devil being released
ABC: Tasmanian devils killed on road days after being released
• Mercury: Government department kept Tasmanian devil and wedge-tailed eagle deaths quiet: documents
TASMANIA’S government department responsible for native animal welfare kept the deaths of Tasmanian devils and wedge-tailed eagles quiet for 12 days, despite calls from an investigator for the incident to be made public. New Right to Information documents published by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment show the presumed poisoning of two wedge-tailed eagles, five Tasmanian devils including a female with two pouch young, a brown falcon and a collared sparrowhawk in Cygnet in May was kept secret by middle management. The decision was made despite a call from the staff member responsible for investigating the deaths recommending a media release be issued, “to shed light on the event [to] try and generate some information and hopefully stop any further poisoning event from occurring”. The documents show the request was refused by “middle management” about 30 minutes later, before a media statement calling for information was created and released — 12 days later.