Ambitious Minister Eric Abetz is sharpening his knife in plain sight after Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s latest display of weakness regarding Leonie Hiscutt.

Yesterday, one Abetz’s acolytes Brendan Blomeley was damning in his assessment of the Premier. “He’s weak, and he is pathetic, and he needs to go,” Mr Blomeley said.

There’s no way he would have been so forthright if Mr Abetz didn’t want him to be.

Mr Blomeley’s comments come just a week after veteran Liberal insider Brad Stansfield – who was also once Mr Abetz’ chief of staff – speculated that 2025 could be the year Mr Abetz made his move.

“And what are the plans of the ambitious Eric Abetz? He didn’t return to politics to be a mere Minister,” Mr Stansfield wrote in his year-ahead preview column.

Mr Abetz’s intentions have been clear since he publicly denounced Liberal policy on the night he was elected.

Can he state his full confidence in the Premier today, and rule out a leadership challenge?

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer