Australian prime minister survives leadership vote

OREANDA-NEWS. Australian prime minister Tony Abbott survived a confidence vote today, keeping in place a leader who has strongly supported the coal industry and worked to end policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Abbott's Liberal party today voted 69:31 against allowing a challenge to Abbott's leadership. The vote removed the possibility of a challenge by former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, who has called for more action to cut GHG emissions.

Abbott's growing unpopularity, and the chances of a leadership change, have been closely watched in the energy and emissions sector. Abbott remains unpopular with voters, with opinion polls showing a 57-43pc lead for the opposition Labor party over the ruling conservative Liberal and National party coalition.

And despite today's result, the fact that almost all Liberal party backbenchers voted for a leadership contest shows Abbott continues to face opposition in his own party. Any further missteps could spark another leadership challenge with the potential to change the government's energy policies. The next federal election must be held by November 2016.