Immigration minister assures conservatives he is a ‘leader in the government’ and says if infighting ‘consumes us’ Bill Shorten will become prime minister

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Peter Dutton has urged the Coalition to move on from Christopher Pyne’s boastful comments claiming victory for the moderates and he assured conservatives that he was a “leader in the government”.

The immigration minister said while Tony Abbott was right to feel aggrieved after Pyne suggested he had always supported Malcolm Turnbull, the Coalition must move on otherwise Bill Shorten would become prime minister.

“Tony’s right to point out that he feels that way [about Mr Pyne] and he would express that and it’s a natural response he would have,” Dutton told 2GB radio.

“The issue for us is that we need to move on before all of this stuff consumes us because I honestly believe with all of my heart that the worst thing for our country is for Bill Shorten to get in there, to become prime minister and to wreck the economy, to run up debt.

Christopher Pyne apologises for 'unwise' remarks that triggered Liberal brawl Read more

“It’s important for all of those reasons for us to accept that which has gone on in the past and not to let it consume us.”

A key conservative in the Turnbull government and a potential future leader, Dutton offered a defence of the moderates, saying a diversity of views around the cabinet table ensured a better decision and a more rounded discussion.

When 2GB’s Ray Hadley suggested conservatives wanted a conservative leader like Dutton, the minister said he was a leader in the government.

“I want to reach out to those people because as a conservative and as a leader in the government, I want those people and I need those people to support us and to vote for us at the next election.

“If they want to support the work that I’m doing in border protection or national security, then they need to vote for our government.”

His comments follow ongoing Coalition division over Pyne’s remarks, in which he also suggested moderates were working to get marriage equality achieved – in contrast to the stated policy of a plebiscite.

Conservatives immediately began agitating for Turnbull to dump Pyne as leader of the government in the House. Abbott said Pyne’s remarks were “a very, very ill-advised speech and I can understand why some of my colleagues might be saying his position as leader of the House is now difficult to maintain”.

Pyne publicly apologised on Wednesday night for his “ill-chosen and unwise” remarks.

On Thursday, Abbott again delivered a high-profile speech to the Centre for Independent Studies calling for his government to explore the option of nuclear submarines.

“Not more robustly challenging the nuclear no-go mindset is probably the biggest regret I have from my time as PM,” Abbott said.

Abbott said as prime minister, he became aware of the limitations of Australia’s submarines when a Russian naval taskforce was deployed in waters north of Australia in 2014.

The force appeared as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was due to visit Australia for the G20 – a month after Abbott threatened to shirtfront Putin over the downing of the MH17 which killed all 298 passengers and crew, including 38 Australian citizens and residents.

“When a Russian naval task force appeared to our north at the time of the Brisbane G20, I was told that neither of our two deployed submarines could shadow it,” Abbott said.



“They simply couldn’t get there in time. It was a stark reminder of the limitations of a strategic deterrent.”

Abbott said while he was not endorsing interrupting the $50bn contract signed with French shipbuilder DCNS for 12 new submarines, the nuclear option should be also considered.

The centre-right Victorian MP and veteran affairs minister, Dan Tehan, also asked his colleagues to accept Pyne’s apology and move on.



Russian naval vessels on move north of Australia in leadup to G20 Read more

“He said he made a mistake, I think it really shows the type of calibre of the person that he is that he has come out and publicly said that he’s sorry for the distraction this has caused,” he told Sky.

“It’s beholden on all of us, every single senator and member of the House of Representatives now, to get back and focus on the things that this government is delivering for the nation and they are substantial and now that is what we need to be doing.”

The conservative Victorian MP and assistant treasurer, Michael Sukkar, said Pyne’s apology was heartfelt and he declined to pass an opinion on whether Abbott was sniping, having promised not to following his loss of the leadership.

“I think we can put a full stop on the whole issue and move on,” Sukkar told Sky. “Of course we all trust each other. It doesn’t mean like a family we have our own little issues from time to time but of course we trust each other.”