The silence from Eric Abetz since his right-hand man Brendan Blomeley launched a broadside on Premier Jeremy Rockliff has become deafening.

In the wake of Leonie Hiscutt breaking party rules and campaigning against the Premier and government while remaining Leader of Government Businesses and a Liberal MLC, the Clarence Mayor offered a frank assessment of the Premier’s leadership. “He’s weak, and he is pathetic, and he needs to go,” Mr Blomeley said. I wonder who Mr Blomeley would like to see as Premier?

The easiest way for Minister Abetz to extinguish growing speculation surrounding his leadership ambitions would be to condemn Mr Blomeley’s fierce attack. Despite having ample opportunity, he hasn’t.

Blomeley and Abetz are as thick as thieves and there’s no way he would have been so forthright if Minister Abetz didn’t want him to be.

Minister Abetz has another opportunity today to declare his full confidence in the Premier and rule out a leadership challenge – will he take it?

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer