bloody handThe voice on the line to Liberal Party HQ was asking for a sheaf of membership forms, explaining that Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension had inspired him to sign up, along with a number of his circle. “Sorry to burden you with this request,” said the caller, who wondered in passing if the Member for Wentworth had inspired a spate of fellow recruits.

“Well, we’ve had a few applications,” said the lass at the other end, “but a lot more have been ringing to cancel their memberships.”

As Jim Allan notes at left, coups and conspiracies bequeath resentments that, in this instance, cannot be dispelled by the mantra that Turnbull, like him or loathe him, is a more appealing prospect than Bill Shorten. So is Humphrey B. Bear, for that matter, but few would regard that as an adequate qualification for a turn in The Lodge.

“Well that is why I want the membership forms,” the caller explained. “I figure — my mates do, too — that we won’t get rid of Turnbull unless we join and start causing some trouble.”

Those membership forms are in the mail. The trouble, it seems, is already here:

West Australian Liberal Dennis Jensen welcomed the assurances of Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who said Australia would not be altering its climate change abatement measures in response to the Chinese development.

But asked if the party’s right still had concerns about what Mr Turnbull might do, Dr Jensen said, “absolutely”.

“It’s one of the conditions of the leadership change that we are sticking with the policy we had,” he told Fairfax Media.

And yet more unhappiness:

A fight is brewing between the Liberal and National parties over a key part of Murray-Darling Basin reform.

The Nationals worked hard to convince new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to move responsibility for water, and with it control of the Murray-Darling Basin process, into the agriculture ministry.

However, their effort to gain some power in the basin reform process looks short lived, with one key agency being left behind.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) won’t be moving and will stay within the environment department….

….The Nationals, and a few upstream Liberals, are furious that the CEWH won’t be moving into the agriculture department.

New Water Minister, Barnaby Joyce, was understood to be fighting for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to move, but he looks to have lost.

Minister Joyce has the support of Dr Sharman Stone, the Federal Liberal Member for Murray who says she’s appalled at the decision.

“Agriculture has been given the water portfolio,” Dr Stone said.

“What nonsense to orphan the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, leaving it cut off and stranded back with the environment portfolio.”

— roger franklin

 

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