More trouble in Tony-town
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-23/liberals-close-ranks-around-abbott/3688432Abbott accused of sidelining MPsBy Jeremy Thompson
Updated November 23, 2011 12:31:22
Senior Liberals are closing ranks around Opposition Leader Tony Abbott after accusations by Liberal MPs that he is leaving them in the dark over important policy decisions.
In the Coalition party room yesterday, Victorian MP Kelly O'Dwyer and Paul Fletcher from New South Wales questioned the economic wisdom of retaining the Government's superannuation boost while, at the same time, dumping the mining tax that funds it.
The decision was made outside the party room by the Liberal leadership group - although key finance spokesman Andrew Robb was excluded from the phone hook-up a fortnight ago.
Liberal sources have told ABC News Online Mr Abbott was "annoyed" by the party room dissent and told Ms O'Dwyer, who once worked for then Treasurer Peter Costello, to talk to her former boss about it.
"It wasn't a good look," one MP told ABC News Online, saying a number of MPs were unhappy about the way Mr Abbott reacted.