New Speaker must command respect: Abbott

Victorian Liberal MP Tony Smith appears to be firming as the favourite ahead of Monday's party room vote on a new Speaker.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop addresses the Parliament

Tony Abbott says it will be up to the new Speaker to decide whether they attend party meetings. (AAP) Source: AAP

Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes Bronwyn Bishop must be replaced by a Speaker who can best command the respect of both sides of the parliament.

Several candidates have put their hands up for the job but
Mr Abbott, who's pledged to support the choice of his backbenchers, declined to say whether he had a preference for who should get the job.

"I'm just one vote in the party room tomorrow," he told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

"The best candidate will be the one who is most able to command the chamber and most able to command respect from both sides of the chamber."
Mr Abbott said it would be up to the new Speaker to decide whether they continued to attend party room meetings.

Mrs Bishop was criticised for being too partisan.

She continued to attend party meetings in what is supposed to be an independent role in the parliament.

PM waters down early election speculation

Prime Minister Tony Abbott insists $4 million in federal funding to a marginal Liberal seat isn't a sign the next election campaign has begun.

Mr Abbott announced the funding for a major upgrade of Redcliffe oval in the Brisbane seat of Petrie on Sunday but watered down suggestions it signalled a coming election.

"It is a sign we take this electorate, we take Brisbane, we take Queensland, we take every electorate seriously," he told reporters.


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Source: AAP

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New Speaker must command respect: Abbott | SBS News