Australian defence minister the latest to quit as election looms

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne speaks to the media at the Australian embassy in Beijing, China January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said on Saturday he will not stand in elections due in May, becoming the latest high-profile resignation as opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Scott Morrison's centre-right government faces heavy defeat.

 

Morrison will need to retain all the parliamentary seats held by his coalition government, but his chances are weakened by a wave of incumbent lawmakers in marginal seats set to retire. [nL3N20O32B]

 

Pyne said he was bowing out after more than 25 years in Parliament and was confident he would leave his seat of Sturt, in the state of South Australia, in good shape.

 

"I'm sure the Liberal Party will retain Sturt at the coming election," Pyne said in a statement on his website.

 

The move follows Friday night's news that Australian Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo would also retire at the May election.

 

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion announced his retirement last week after Human Services Minister Michael Keenan said he was stepping down. Minister for Jobs Kelly O’Dwyer also resigned, and former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said last month she would not stand for re-election.

 

The offices of the ministers and Morrison did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

A Newspoll for The Australian newspaper showed the opposition Labor party retained a lead of 53 percent to 47 percent over the Liberal-National government last month, unchanged from the poll in December.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-02

Was it Keating who said when Pyne lost his cabinet position (many years ago) that "the coalition has lost its queen"

59 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

Was it Keating who said when Pyne lost his cabinet position (many years ago) that "the coalition has lost its queen"

Gillard called him a mincing poodle which about summed things up.

 

Having said that he’s getting to do what most don’t in politics, and that is leave at a time of his choosing. Not many get to do that. 

The Lib's are deserting a sinking ship.  ALP look likely to get in with help from migrants and the corrupt unions.

Australia is stuffed even more so than UK under brexit.

When was the last time a pm did a full term? I peg the oil changes in my car based on a new pm, easier to remember that way

12 hours ago, Lucius verus said:

The Lib's are deserting a sinking ship.  ALP look likely to get in with help from migrants and the corrupt unions.

Australia is stuffed even more so than UK under brexit.

what unions are they, two royal commissions one under howard found bugger all, now the lnp's banking friends that's a different matter.

17 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Was it Keating who said when Pyne lost his cabinet position (many years ago) that "the coalition has lost its queen"

Gillard called him a “mincing poodle” cruel unnecessary,homophobic, but funny