MEMBER for Mallee Andrew Broad hopes Wimmera people will not give up on democracy in light of Australia’s seventh leadership change in the past decade.
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Former treasurer Scott Morrison won a Liberals spill on Friday, meaning he will become the country’s 30th Prime Minister.
It ended a week of upheaval in Canberra, which started when Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton mounted a leadership challenge to Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Broad said he understood people would be frustrated by last week’s events.
“We voted for Rudd, we got Gillard. We voted for Gillard, we got Rudd. We voted for Abbott, we got Turnbull. We voted for Turnbull, we got Morrison. I understand people will be disheartened by that,” he said.
“People will look at the past 10 years of politics and be pretty disappointed.
“My view has always been that wherever possible, you must have stable and strong government, and prime ministers should serve out their term.
“My focus as a Member of Parliament is to be professional to ensure that we've got stability from a national security point of view, and that we've got an executive government for our economic well-being, and to conduct myself in a manner that gets the best outcome for the people.
“As a member of the Nationals I haven't been part of the conduct of the Liberal party. This is why I'm a National, not a Liberal.”
Mr Broad said he had tried not to be a political commentator.
He said he had a professional relationship with Mr Turnbull, and would have the same with Mr Morrison.
“I'm not going to say Scott's a great bloke and Malcolm is terrible, or that Malcolm is great and Scott is terrible,” he said.
“You work with all sorts of people and you try to get the best outcomes.”
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan congratulated Mr Morrison and incoming Deputy Prime Minister Josh Frydenberg on being chosen to lead the country. He said it was an honour to serve in Mr Turnbull’s cabinet.
“It is now time for the government to get back to its most important job – governing for the Australian people,” he said.
Rural Councils Victoria chairman Rob Gersch said he did not think the leadership shake-up would make it more difficult for local governments to advocate.
“Regardless of who is in power, if we are going through our local member we certainly do have the opportunity to meet with ministers, and I’m sure that won’t change,” he said.
“I think the whole political sector has turned people off politics and they lose confidence in their politicians – that's the biggest damage done in my opinion.
“I think people tar federal government, state government and local government with the same brush, and that’s disappointing.”