The soon-to-be retired Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker could be gone sooner than he thinks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The federal MP admitted he had not experienced a week in politics like it in his 17 years as a sitting member, with the Liberal Party leadership battle engulfing the parliament.
And he was unflattering in his opinion about the leadership battle currently tearing the Liberal Party apart.
On Thursday (August 23) afternoon, Malcolm Turnbull set a midday on Friday deadline for the second spill motion of the week, but he's forcing Liberals who want him gone to reveal themselves.
He demanded Mr Dutton get at least 43 signatures to force a leadership spill - and promised to quit as prime minister if it goes ahead.
"This is a chaotic situation that has transpired," he said.
"The people of Australia really do deserve much, much better than this.
"I believe it is incumbent on the Liberty Party to resolve this leadership issue quickly and to get on with governing Australia.
"People just want us to govern and not to squabble amongst ourselves," Mr Hartsuyker said.
The MP said government should always be about the best interests of the community first and foremost.
He agreed that any change of Liberal Party leader would necessitate a new Coalition agreement.
Labor Party candidate for the federal seat Andrew Woodward said the government had basically given up.
"It's like we have a government not acting as a government," he said.
"We now have this weird 24 hour window of nothing.
"There is so much to do and so many questions to answer.
"Basically this government has said they can't do anything, which says a lot about conservative politics in this country."
Mr Woodward said it doesn't matter if it is Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull leading the country.
"The personalities are not the issue here, it is the policy and the party that is the concern," he added.
The candidate said the real issue was a fight between the hard right conservatives and the moderates within the Liberal Party.
"There is also a third dimension to this and that is while the government looks to change its leader we still have people on waiting lists in Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour for housing, hospital care and emergency accommodation.
"Politicians should be spending their time working on those issues and for those people who need a hand.
"Every minute not spent this week on helping people is just lost.
"Instead, we have politicians talking about politicians."
The Port News contacted Greens candidate, Dr Sally Townley and former federal MP Rob Oakeshott for comment.
