Tony Abbott survives PM leadership challenge

Australian PM Tony Abbott has survived a leadership ‘no confidence’ vote.

The government lawmakers gathered in the national capital yesterday to decide whether to oust beleaguered Abbott after only 16 months in power in the face of dismal opinion polling and a voter revolt against conservative state governments.

The challenge — a “spill motion” that declared the party leadership open to any candidates in a ballot — was triggered by disgruntled government lawmakers last week and was to be discussed today at the year’s first meeting of the ruling Liberal Party’s 102 lawmakers.