Australian Liberals object to ending of prayer at start of parliamentary proceedings

Malcolm Turnbull, the recently-elected leader of Australia's Liberals, has objected to the suggestion that the Lord's Prayer - currently used to begin parliamentary proceedings - be replaced or "rewritten".

Mr Turnbull issued this statement:

"Opening the Australian Parliament each day with the Lord’s Prayer is an important reminder of our shared humanity and a reference to the words of our Constitution when ‘humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God’ we established the Commonwealth of Australia over 100 years ago.

Media reports today that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is seeking to remove the Lord’s Prayer from the daily programme is the first time this matter has been raised with the Opposition.

The Lord’s Prayer has a very important place in the conduct of the parliamentary programme, and ahead of the day’s debate and deliberations it provides a non-partisan reaffirmation of our commitment to the common good for the people of Australia.

Removal of the Lord’s Prayer by the Speaker or the Government is completely unacceptable and will not be supported by the Coalition."

Prayers start the parliamentary day in many legislatures, including Canada and the UK.

The Australian Liberals and climate change policy

Tom Switzer, former adviser to Australian Liberal leader Brendan Nelson, has written for The Spectator's new Australia blog about the tensions within his party about green policies:

"Whereas once both leaders [Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull] were calling on Australians to pay higher energy prices to save the planet, they now warn of tougher economic times as the financial crisis enters a new and dangerous phase. Whereas once Australians wanted to do their bit to cut the gases our leaders claim cause global warming, we now panic about more visceral things like protecting their jobs, mortgages and superannuation. Whereas once Australians were cheering on the Prime Minister to lead the world on the environment, we now fear we’ll succumb to the financial contagion wreaking havoc all over the world. And whereas once the political debate was over co-ordinated global action to tackle global warming, it’s now over co-ordinated global action to stabilise the international financial system."

Read the full post here.

Australia's ConservativeHome

The Australian Conservative has just been launched.  It aims to offer something similar to that provided by ConHome in the UK.  It is certainly beautifully presented and we'll be visiting regularly.  Our best of luck to John Styles, its editor.

Malcolm Turnbull is new leader of Australia's Liberals

Within one hour of Brendan Nelson becoming John Howard's successor, 292 days ago, Malcolm Turnbull had, blogs Samantha Maiden, "stormed into the new Liberal leader’s parliamentary office... tearing into Nelson over his “funereal speech” and urging him to toughen up." Mr Nelson was never allowed another moment's peace and quiet during his turbulent tenure as leader.

Yesterday he called a surprise leadership election in the hope of throwing his year-long rival, Mr Turnbull off balance.  Today - with astonishing speed - his gamble failed and his fellow MPs chose Mr Turnbull to be their leader (by 45 votes to 41).  Mr Turnbull lost to Mr Nelson by 45 votes to 42 last year.  Mr Nelson has said that he will now return to the backbenches.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is calling it "The Turnbull Experiment".  Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is seen by many as a one man band and loose cannon.  Many of those 41 Liberal Party MPs who voted against him worried that he would be inadequately respectful of others' views - the reverse problem of Mr Nelson, a leader who had been too ready to agree with every colleague.

Turnbull is the son of a single father, a self-made multi-millionaire and an avowed moderniser, particularly on the issue of the environment.

He will be known to many Britons as the lawyer who successfully defended Peter Wright in the Spycatcher case and as a champion of making Australia a republic.

Australian PM, Kevin Rudd, has already challenged Mr Turnbull to help him lead the nation away from the monarchy.

> The Sydney Morning Herald have published this three minute photo and audio profile.

> PlayPolitical video: Mr Turnbull's victory press conference

> In the video below Mr Turnbull makes his first appearance at the Australian Parliament's daily ministerial questions: