Abbott reveals Turnbull's role in 'baton change' strategy

The Australian ^ | 15th September 2010 | Joe Kelly

[naturalman1975]

TONY Abbott today revealed that Malcolm Turnbull is central to his strategy to convince the independents to shift their support from Labor to the Coalition.

One day after announcing his line-up, Mr Abbott hit the airwaves to attack the Government's $43 billion National Broadband Network.

The Opposition leader said there was “no reason whatsoever why there couldn't be a baton change at some point early in the government's term”.

“We've got to demonstrate to the Australian public that we would be a better and safer pair of hands than the Labor party, that we can be better trusted with public money than the Labor party,” he told ABC radio.

“And that's where I think Malcolm has a very very important role in the new parliament.”

Mr Abbott said, while he was not keen to force another election, Mr Turnbull as communications spokesman would prove critical in wooing the support of the independents by exposing “the waste and extravagance inherent in the government's broadband plans”.

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However, Mr Turnbull said whether the independents changed their mind about who to support was a matter for them.

“I think the independents have got a vested interest in maintaining a minority government. Now would they switch to our side to support the Coalition in a minority government, I guess only time will tell.”