Government minister Christopher Pyne has apologised for his "unhelpful and damaging" same-sex marriage speech that ignited a factional firestorm, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on his MPs to stop focusing on internal party divisions.
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The Pyne saga: How it happened
A secretly recorded speech from Christopher Pyne has opened up old wounds within the Liberal Party including factional tensions and the PM's leadership.
In a speech to his local constituents on Wednesday, Mr Pyne sought to quell the anger that has sparked conservative calls that he be sacked from his key parliamentary role of Leader of the House of Representatives.
"I'm very sorry that my comments at an event last Friday have caused such a distraction for the government," he said. "I apologise to anyone they have offended. My remarks were ill chosen and unwise, and I can see how unhelpful and damaging they have been."
Mr Turnbull ran an inclusive cabinet government that united the liberal and conservative strands of the party, he said.
With factional tensions on the boil following Mr Pyne's comments about same-sex marriage last week, senior members of the government - led by Mr Turnbull - sought to end the instability and fend off demands for Mr Pyne's scalp.
"My message to politicians and journalists alike, in the happy family in the big house in Canberra, is don't focus on yourselves – focus on the people who elected us," Mr Turnbull said. "Australians are bored, fed up with journalists and politicians talking among themselves."
Capitalising on the latest round of infighting, Mr Abbott yesterday delivered a combative speech in which he outlined a new six-point political and policy manifesto underpinned by the Donald Trump-esque slogan "Make Australia Work Again".
But Mr Turnbull gave Mr Abbott's policy prescription short shrift, slapping down his suggestions particularly on energy policy: "I am not into political slogans; I am into engineering and economics."
On Wednesday, Mr Abbott defended his interventions and foreshadowed a speech he will deliver to the Centre for Independent Studies in which he is expected to call for Australia to embrace nuclear submarines.
He also took aim at Mr Pyne, criticising his "ill-advised and indiscreet speech" in which he said same-sex marriage might soon be a reality.
"I can understand why some of my colleagues are now saying his position as leader of the house is now difficult to maintain," Mr Abbott said. "But this – as always – is a matter for the prime minister."
Social Services Minister and senior conservative Christian Porter said Mr Pyne was an "excellent minister" who enjoyed the full support of his colleagues. He rejected suggestions the government was straying from its core values, telling Sky News the government was taking a "conservative, commonsense approach" to issues.
Treasurer Scott Morrison also dismissed the suggestion Mr Pyne should be moved, while Attorney-General George Brandis told ABC radio that only commentators and the Labor Party were excited by "insider gossip and tittle-tattle".
Following the latest eruption over same-sex marriage, maverick Nationals MP George Christensen said he had only voted with the opposition on protecting penalty rates earlier this month after he was assured that Liberal MPs supportive of same-sex marriage also intended to defy the government and cross the floor.
One of the most outspoken Liberal advocates for same-sex marriage, Tim Wilson, said he had supported the plebiscite despite his misgivings, and that policy commitment had been honoured when it was pursued but voted down by the Senate.
Fairfax Media revealed this week that two Liberal MPs have been working on a secret bill to amend the Marriage Act as soon as August to end the impasse and allow the government to move on from the issue with a conscience vote.
While the Prime Minister has held fast to the plebiscite as government policy, making clear there would be no change in this term of Parliament, a handful of Liberal MPs could still override the government's control of the House and force a private member's bill through with Labor and the crossbenchers.
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