From the AFR:
Tony Abbott has until the second half of this year to turn around the government’s fortunes or risk losing his job, his colleagues say.
Under a contingency plan being actively discussed within senior ranks of the Coalition, ministers and backbenchers are willing Mr Abbott to succeed. If not he faces being replaced, possibly by Julie Bishop with Malcolm Turnbull as deputy leader and treasurer.
“There’s deep concern among the backbench,’’ said a senior member of cabinet.
“The question is ‘can Tony turn it around?’
How much more damage can he do in six months? In 18 he’s set back global climate change mitigation, poisoned budget reform, humiliated Australian diplomacy and destroyed monarchism.
Six months is plenty of time for more wrecking.
