国际英语新闻:Australia's Liberal Party leadership vote retains Abbott as PM but in precarious position

CANBERRA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has pleaded with his own party, and the Australian electorate, to support him after he survived a motion to spill the leadership of the Liberal Party on Monday morning.

In a statement to the media following the 61-39 vote, a chastened Abbott said the leadership debate was now settled and made an impassioned plea to the electorate, and those within the Liberal Party seeking to destabilize him, to support his leadership.

"Now this matter is behind us," he said.

"We want to end the disunity, the uncertainty which destroyed two other governments, and give you the government you deserve.

"We think that when you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind," he said.

"So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation," said Abbott, adding, "I love this country and I will do my best to help our country to succeed."

Discomforting for Abbott, however, was the number of voters in support of the spill motion - almost two-fifths of his party - just 17 months after the prime minister led the Liberal-National coalition to government at the last election.

Given that none of Abbott's colleagues had announced their intention to challenge for the leadership, that effectively meant 39 Liberal Party MPs voted purely in protest against his leadership, rather than in support of a rival's candidacy.

This has led to speculation that another challenge to his leadership is on the horizon.

A former long-serving minister in John Howard's government, Peter Reith, told Sky News that Monday's vote was a terrible result for Abbott's long-term position. "It's a very bad day for Tony, no doubt about it," Reith said.

"I would think a serious number of frontbench ministers have peeled off Tony already."

But Western Australian Liberal Luke Simpkins, who instigated the spill motion, said after the leadership vote on Monday that Abbott had agreed to better consult the electorate, backbenchers and his ministers.

"Getting 39 votes is a powerful statement," said Simpkins. " This has been a good wake up call, the PM has taken on our concerns and he should be given that opportunity to move forward."

The prime minister has been under pressure from colleagues and the public following a series of unpopular decisions made without speaking to members of his government, leading to his mistakes being called "Captain's Calls."

Last week in a crucial speech, Abbott killed off his controversial paid parental leave scheme policy and conceded he would change his leadership style.

A fortnight ago, Abbott controversially awarded an Australian knighthood to Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Phillip, before public outrage caused him to agree to leave future awards decisions to the Australia Day Council.

Abbott entered the party room before 9 a.m. on Monday flanked by most of his cabinet ministers.

A notable exception was Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was expected to stand for the leadership if the motion has been passed.

Turnbull last led the party in opposition in 2009 before Abbott defeated him by one vote in the last battle for the leadership of the center-right party.

A Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper on Monday said Abbott had recorded the worst approval ratings for a prime minister in 20 years, sitting at 24 percent, and that if an election were held immediately, the comfortable margin that took the coalition to power over the Labor government would be reversed.