Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing a challenge to his leadership after a communications minister launched a bid for the top office.
Former tech entrepreneur Malcolm Turnbull said he would be seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party after being urged “by many people” to run after criticism of the current Prime Minister’s performance.
Turnbull told reporters at parliament house in Canberra that the Prime Minister has not been “capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs”.
Turnbull had been ousted as leader of the Liberal Party in 2009 with his support for a carbon trading scheme, as well as an Australian republic making him unpopular.
Abbot has continued to defy opinion inside and outside his part, despite pledging to be more consultative, announcing an emissions reduction target criticised as inadequate by environmental groups.
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