Tony Abbott has survived the spill motion against his leadership of the Liberal party 61-39, with one informal vote and one abstention due to absence.
It means that Mr Abbott remains as prime minister of Australia.
It was chief whip, Philip Ruddock’s duty to address the assembled media at Parliament House of the result. “That seems to me to resolve the matter,” he said, adding that the prime minister was addressing the party room following the vote.
The fact that 40% of Liberal party parliamentarians voted in favour of the spill indicates though that Mr Abbott still faces a big challenge to quell speculation about his leadership.
IMAGE: File photo via Getty Images
