I’m calling for readers to send messages to their MPs. It does matter. The Coalition needs to hear from voters. It worked before, and it can work again. For foreign readers, yes, there are rumours of another leadership spill or challenge all over the Australian press. See my comment #10.2 for background.
Malcolm Turnbull could’ve stayed leader in 2009 — all he had to do was agree to delay the emissions trading scheme until the rest of the world acted. But he fell on his sword for a pointless scheme which benefits few outside bankers, brokers and the renewables industry. And he has never said he would do anything differently.
We can’t get rid of a carbon market. Why risk it?
Malcolm Turnbull is the leader that the ABC wants for the party that most in the ABC won’t vote for. If you follow the ABC and Fairfax and feel despondent about our national debate, don’t give in to apathy. That’s exactly what the “consensus” crowd wants — your submissive acquiescence. The same people who tell us a carbon trading scheme is inevitable are the now ones calling the government dysfunctional, even though it achieved its three largest goals in the first twelve months. Tell the government and the media what you think.
The problems of the Abbott government are real (which government was perfect?) but they are not on the scale of the debacle of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years — when a major economy-wide transformation was denied before the 2010 election yet was delivered after the election, and when surpluses were promised each year but were never delivered. Abbott solved problems in six months that dogged the Labor government for six years. Our national discussion is consumed with inane red herrings. Should we debate the massive Labor debt created during a mining boom, or agonize over knighthoods instead? (Hint: NZ and Canada survived the princely honors issue without calling out a lynch mob.) Should we discuss the all pervasive entitlement culture, or whether Triggs was offered another job?
Some Liberal party supporters (and perhaps some MP’s) risk being fooled by the ABC and Fairfax. The ABC ignored some of them for years but suddenly shone the prime time glow all over them when their message was anti-Abbott. Do they suspect they are being used?
As I said a few weeks ago – there is only one choice for a real skeptic
Malcolm Turnbull lost his leadership in 2009 because he wanted an emissions trading scheme. But that extraordinary wave may get reversed. Australia may still end up with an emissions trading scheme which will send billions in broker’s fees to bankers, won’t change the climate, and will be almost impossible to unwind. It’s not about free markets, it’s about fake ones. What’s worse than a carbon tax? A carbon market.
If you worry about the endless, inevitable rush to bigger government, more freeloaders and less individual freedom, do something — express yourself.
Australia needs a real conservative-libertarian party.
The state of the debate: Steve Kates says “I would never vote for a Coalition led by Malcolm Turnbull“. Sinclair Davidson, says I would never (again) vote for a Coalition led by Tony Abbott. I confess to being unmoved by Davidson’s reasoning- – there is nothing pro-Turnbull there, and although Abbott should’ve repealed 18C (it’s pure freedom of speach) there is no sign that Turnbull will repeal it either.
If Turnbull becomes PM, much of the passionate support base for the Liberal party will switch to other conservative or libertarian parties. Abbott has let down his base by pandering to the bullies and greens, but he can change that. Does anyone think Turnbull will take them on?
See also: Andrew Bolt regarding Greg Sheridan: Abbott’s great strengths, and their danger.
Abbott is decisive, loyal, focused on outcomes, writes his own speeches, engages intensely with people; he is principled, pragmatic, stubborn, in love with the military, romantic, a sportsman, courageous, has immense willpower, and is conservative and religious…
[But] each one of his positive characteristics, which could make him a fine prime minister, is also potentially a negative characteristic and limits his effectiveness.
Bolt: Turnbull myth exposed: he has no deal with Bishop or Morrison
In the end, a Turnbull led Coalition may lead to the rise of alternate parties or a new Australian version of UKIP which might be a boon in the long run, but the price may be a permanent emissions trading scheme which feeds financial sharks. Do we really want to risk it?
Please keep your messages to politicians and news editors polite.
Thanks to Michael for this list below.
Australian Members of Parliament (Coalition) 2015
The Australian Parliament official page for contacting Senators and Members.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Kevin Andrews) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Sussan Ley) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Kelly O’Dwyer) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Members of Parliament – phone numbers Coalition 2015
John Alexander (Bennalong) Tel: 
(02) 6277 4804 Fax: (02) 6277 8581
Karen Andrews (McPherson) Tel: (02) 6277 4360 Fax: (02) 6277 8462
Kevin Andrews (Menzies) Tel: (02) 6277 7560 Fax: (02) 6273 4122
Bob Baldwin (Paterson) Tel: (02) 6277 4200 Fax: (02) 6277 8447
Bruce Billson (Dunkley) Tel: (02) 6277 7930 Fax: (02) 6273 0434
Bronwyn Bishop (MacKellar) Tel: (02) 6277 4000 Fax: (02) 6277 2050
Julie Bishop (Curtin) Tel: (02) 6277 7500 Fax: (02) 6273 4112
Jamie Briggs (Mayo) Tel: (02) 6277 7020 Fax: (02) 6273 4126
Russell Broadbent (McMillan) Tel: (02) 6277 4233 Fax: (02) 6277 8485
Mal Brough (Fisher) Tel: (02) 6277 4970 Fax: (02) 6277 2860
Scott Buchholz (Wright) Tel: (02) 6277 4449 Fax: (02) 6277 8408
Steven Ciobo (Moncrief) Tel: (02) 6277 2330 Fax: (02) 6277 8452
David Coleman (Banks) Tel: (02) 6277 4188 Fax: (02) 6277 2353
Peter Dutton (Dickson) Tel: (02) 6277 7220 Fax: (02) 6273 4146
Warren Entsch (Leichhardt) Tel: (02) 6277 4803 Fax: (02) 6277 2238
Paul Fletcher (Bradfield) Tel: (02) 6277 4240 Fax: (02) 6277 8457
Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong) Tel: (02) 6277 7360 Fax: (02) 6273 4125
Teresa Gambaro (Brisbane) Tel: (02) 6277 4331 Fax: (02) 6277 8515
Ian Goodenough (Moore) Tel: (02) 6277 4651 Fax: (02) 6277 2082
Natasha Griggs (Solomon) Tel: (02) 6277 2392 Fax: (02) 6277 8479
Alex Hawke (Mitchell) Tel: (02) 6277 4430 Fax: (02) 6277 8522
Sarah Henderson (Corangamite) Tel: (02) 6277 4172 Fax: (02) 6277 2043
Peter Hendy (Eden Monaro) Tel: (02) 6277 4717 Fax: (02) 6277 4737
Joe Hockey (North Sydney) Tel: (02) 6277 7340 Fax: (02) 6273 3420
Luke Howarth (Petrie) Tel: (02) 6277 4018 Fax: (02) 6277 2361
Greg Hunt (Flinders) Tel: (02) 6277 7920 Fax: (02) 6273 7330
Eric Hutchinson (Lyons) Tel: (02) 6277 4918 Fax: (02) 6277 4299
Steve Irons (Swan) Tel: (02) 6277 4337 Fax: (02) 6277 8494
Denis Jensen (Tangney) Tel: (02) 6277 4156Fax: (02) 6277 8460
Ewen Jones (Herbert) Tel: (02) 6277 4693 Fax: (02) 6277 8551
Michael Keenan (Stirling) Tel: (02) 6277 7290Fax: (02) 6273 7098
Craig Kelly (Hughes) Tel: (02) 6277 4366 Fax: (02) 6277 8567
Andrew Laming (Bowman) Tel: (02) 6277 4258Fax: (02) 6277 8503
Craig Laundy (Reid) Tel: (02) 6277 4345 Fax: (02) 6277 8577
Sussan Ley (Farrer) Tel: (02) 6277 7220 Fax: (02) 6273 5188
Ian Macfarlane (Groom) Tel: (02) 6277 7070 Fax: (02) 6273 3662
Nola Marino (Forrest) Tel: (02) 6277 2318 Fax: (02) 6277 8450
Louise Markus (Macquarie) Tel: (02) 6277 2371 Fax: (02) 6277 8463
Russell Matheson (Macarthur) Tel: (02) 6277 2035 Fax: (02) 6277 8486
Karen McNamara (Dobell) Tel: (02) 6277 4055 Fax: (02) 6277 4293
Scott Morrison (Cook) Tel: (02) 6277 7860 Fax: (02) 6273 4144
Andrew Nikolic (Bass) Tel: (02) 6277 4954 Fax: (02) 6277 227
Kelly O’Dwyer (Higgins) Tel: (02) 6277 4155 Fax: (02) 6277 8453
Tony Pasin (Barker) Tel: (02) 6277 4864 Fax: (02) 6277 4865
Christian Porter (Pearce) Tel: (02) 6277 4275 Fax: (02) 6277 2231
Jane Prentice (Ryan) Tel: (02) 6277 4426 Fax: (02) 6277 8512
Melissa Price (Durack) Tel: (02) 6277 4242 Fax: (02) 6277 8554
Christopher Pyne (Sturt) Tel: (02) 6277 7350 Fax: (02) 6273 4134
Rowan Ramsay (Grey) Tel: (02) 6277 4967 Fax: (02) 6277 8440
Don Randall (Canning) Tel: (02) 6277 2090 Fax: (02) 6277 8425
Andrew Robb (Goldstein) Tel: (02) 6277 7420 Fax: (02) 6273 4128
Stuart Robert (Fadden) Tel: (02) 6277 7730 Fax: (02) 6273 3897
Wyatt Roy (Longman) Tel: (02) 6277 4646 Fax: (02) 6277 8539
Philip Ruddock (Berowa) Tel: (02) 6277 4088 Fax: (02) 6277 8468
Fiona Scott (Lindsay) Tel: (02) 6277 4270 Fax: (02) 6277 8422
Luke Simpkins (Cowan) Tel: (02) 6277 4009 Fax: (02) 6277 8423
Tony Smith (Casey) Tel: (02) 6277 4284 Fax: (02) 6277 8439
Andrew Southcott (Boothby) Tel: (02) 6277 4283 Fax: (02) 6277 8476
Sharman Stone (Murray) Tel: (02) 6277 4477 Fax: (02) 6277 8454
Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore) Tel: (02) 6277 4141 Fax: (02) 6277 8482
Michael Sukkar (Deakin) Tel: (02) 6277 4847 Fax: (02) 6277 4862
Angus Taylor (Hume) Tel: (02) 6277 4662 Fax: (02) 6277 2389
Dan Tehan (Wannon) Tel: (02) 6277 4393 Fax: (02) 6277 8538
Alan Tudge (Aston) Tel: (02) 6277 4354 Fax: (02) 6277 8487
Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth) Tel: (02) 6277 7480 Fax: (02) 6273 3776
Bert Van Mannen (Forde) Tel: (02) 6277 4719 Fax: (02) 6277 8553
Nickolas Varvaris (Barton) Tel: (02) 6277 4626 Fax: (02) 6277 8428
Ross Vasta (Bonner) Tel: (02) 6277 4632 Fax: (02) 6277 8535
Brett Whiteley (Braddon) Tel: (02) 6277 4387 Fax: (02) 6277 2335
Lucy Wicks (Robertson) Tel: (02) 6277 4738 Fax: (02) 6277 4739
Matt Williams (Hindmarsh) Tel: (02) 6277 4429 Fax: (02) 6277 2375
Rick Wilson (O’Connor) Tel: (02) 6277 4101 Fax: (02) 6277 2073
Jason Wood (La Trobe) Tel: (02) 6277 4982 Fax: (02) 6277 4994
Ken Wyatt (Hasluck) Tel: (02) 6277 4707 Fax: (02) 6277 8552
Coalition Senators Emails and phones 2015
To contact members in their Electorate Office use this Parliamentary list. The numbers below are for Parliament House Canberra.
Eric Abetz (TAS) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 7320 Fax: (02) 6273 4115
Chris Back (WA) https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=J7Q Telephone: (02) 6277 3733 Fax: (02) 6277 5877
Cory Bernardi https://www.corybernardi.com/contact/ (SA) Telephone: (02) 6277 3278 Fax: (02) 6277 5783
Simon Birmingham (SA) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 7630 Fax: (02) 6273 5188
George Brandis (QLD) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102
David Bushby (TAS) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3404 Fax: (02) 6277 3403
Michaelia Cash (WA) Telephone: (02) 6277 7610 Fax: (02) 6273 7093 https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=I0M
Richard Colbeck (TAS) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 5814 Fax: (02) 6277 5823
Mathias Cormann (WA) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 7400 Fax: (02) 6273 4110
Sean Edwards (SA) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3385 Fax: (02) 6277 5960
David Fawcett (SA) Telephone: (02) 6277 3418 Fax: (02) 6277 5964 [email protected]
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3345 Fax: (02) 6277 3351
Mitch Fifield (VIC) Telephone: (02) 6277 7280 Fax: (02) 6273 4138 http://www.mitchfifield.com/Contact.aspx
Bill Heffernan (NSW) Telephone: (02) 6277 3610 Fax: (02) 6277 3614
David Johnston (WA) Telephone: (02) 6277 3249 Fax: (02) 6277 5766 https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=00AON
Ian MacDonald (QLD) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3722 Fax: (02) 6277 5914
Brett Mason (QLD) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3756 Fax: (02) 6277 5725
James McGrath (QLD) Telephone: (02) 6277 3076 Fax: (02) 6277 5948 https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=217241
Stephen Parry (TAS) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3300 Fax: (02) 6277 3108
Marise Payne (NSW) Telephone: (02) 6277 7200 Fax: (02) 6273 4406 [email protected]
Linda Reynolds (WA) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3296 Fax: (02) 6277 5764
Michael Ronaldson (VIC) Telephone: (02) 6277 7820 Fax: (02) 6273 4140 https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=xt4
Anne Ruston (SA) Telephone: (02) 6277 3753 Fax: (02) 6277 5825
Scott Ryan (VIC) http://scottryan.com.au/email Telephone: (02) 6277 3483 Fax: (02) 6277 5824
Nigel Scullion (NT) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 7780 Fax: (02) 6273 7096
Zed Seselja (ACT) Telephone: (02) 6277 3187 Fax: (02) 6277 5712 https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=HZE
Arthur Sinodinis (NSW) [email protected] Telephone: (02) 6277 3651 Fax: (02) 6277 5954
Dean Smith (WA) [email protected] Telephone: 02 6277 3707 Fax: 02 6277 5792
(07) 4927 2003 Fax (07) 4927 2004(03) 5441 4251 Fax: (03) 5441 4260(02) 6382 3400 Fax: (02) 6382 3499(07) 4638 7555 Fax: (07) 4638 7199(02) 6721 4500 Fax: (02) 6721 4544
I have updated my Australian Elected Representatives – Contacts page with these details.