Anthony John Abbott is an Australian politician who was the 28th Prime Minister of Australia, from 18 September 2013 to 15 September 2015. Abbott was leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2009 to 2015, and has been a member of parliament for Warringah since 1994.
Abbott was born in London, to an Australian mother and a British father, and emigrated to Sydney, Australia, with his parents in 1960. Prior to entering Parliament, Abbott took the degrees of Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney, then attended The Queen's College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar, graduating as a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He later proceeded by seniority to Master of Arts.
After graduating from Oxford, Abbott trained as a Roman Catholic seminarian, and later worked as a journalist, a manager, and a political adviser. In 1992, he was appointed Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, a position he held until his election to Parliament in 1994. Abbott was first appointed to Cabinet following the 1998 election, as part of the Second Howard Ministry, becoming Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
In 2003, Abbott became Minister for Health and Ageing, retaining this position until the defeat of the Howard Government at the 2007 election. Initially serving in the Shadow Cabinets of Brendan Nelson and then Malcolm Turnbull, Abbott resigned from the front bench in November 2009, in protest against Turnbull's support for the Rudd Government's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme . Forcing a leadership ballot on the subject, Abbott defeated Turnbull by 42 votes to 41, to become the Party's leader and Leader of the Opposition.
Abbott led the Coalition at the 2010 election, which resulted in a hung parliament. Following negotiations, Labor formed a Government, with the support of one Greens MP and three Independent MPs. Abbott was re-elected as Liberal Leader unopposed. Abbott went on to lead the Coalition to victory in the 2013 election and was sworn in as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia on 18 September 2013. On 14 September 2015, Abbott was defeated in a vote for the Liberal leadership by Malcolm Turnbull, who replaced Abbott as Prime Minister the following day.
“Victory is within our ready grasp…We are in reach of a famous victory”
"Abbott's 'famous victory' remark … was it gospel or not?" http://www.theage.com.au/national/abbotts-famous-victory-remark--was-it-gospel-or-not-20100623-ywq0.html in The Age, June 23, 2010.
2010
Quoted in "Abortion rate a tragedy, says Abbott" http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/16/1079199224910.html on www.theage.com.au, March 17, 2004.
2004
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
Quoted in "I could be seen as 'cruel' on Gardasil: Abbott" http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/i-could-be-seen-as-cruel-on-gardasil-abbott/story-e6frg6nf-1111112494271, Australian, November 9, 2006.
2006
After being asked by host Lisa Wilkinson to nominate his top achievement in his capacity as Minister for Women, quoted in Sydney Morning Herald, "Tony Abbott names carbon tax repeal as his top achievement as Minister for Women'" http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-names-carbon-tax-repeal-as-his-top-achievement-as-minister-for-women-20141221-12bw42, December 22, 2014
2014
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
“I probably feel a bit threatened, as so many people do.”
When asked how he felt about homosexuality Quoted in Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/tony-abbott-gay-remarks-dangerous/story-e6frf7jo-1225838436495", March 9, 2010.
2010
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
Remarks quoted by Craig Wilson, editor of the Pyrenees Advocate, quoted in "Town of Beaufort changed Tony Abbott's view on climate change" http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/the-town-that-turned-up-the-temperature/story-e6frgczf-1225809567009 in the Australian, December 12, 2009. [no recording was made, and accounts differ of the precise wording].
2009
Quoted in the Australian, "Aboriginal people must get jobs, says Opposition leader Tony Abbott" http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/aboriginal-people-must-get-jobs-says-opposition-leader-tony-abbott/story-fn5tas5k-1225886350430 June 30, 2010.
2010
To leigh Sales "Tony Abbott blames carbon tax for 'uncertainty'" http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3573785.htm 7.30 Report, August 22, 2012.
2012
Quoted in "Abortion rate a tragedy, says Abbott" http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/16/1079199224910.html on www.theage.com.au, March 17, 2004.
2004
Clarifying his election commitments in an interview with Anton Enus on SBS News and subsequently quoted in "Then and now: the Abbott government's broken promises" http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/then-and-now-the-abbott-governments-broken-promises-20140514-zrcfr.html Sydney Morning Herald, September 6, 2013.
2013
“I am, as you know, hugely unconvinced by the so-called settled science on climate change.”
Quoted in "ABC 7.30 Report" http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2638036.htm, July 22, 2002.
2002
“Climate change argument is absolute crap.”
Quoted in "A look back at most controversial Tony Abbott moments" http://www.news.com.au/national/a-look-back-at-most-controversial-tony-abbott-moments-after-prime-minister-apologises-for-winking/story-fncynjr2-1226927063505 on news.com.au, May 23, 2014.
2010
Quoted in "Tony Abbott says climate change is 'probably doing good'" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/10/tony-abbott-says-climate-change-is-probably-doing-good, The Guardian, October 10, 2017
2017
could have made such a religion out of it.
Quoted in "'I've learnt to speak my mind': 10 excerpts from Tony Abbott's climate change speech in London'" http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ive-learnt-to-speak-my-mind-ten-excerpts-from-tony-abbotts-climate-change-speech-in-london-20171009-gyxk92.html, Sydney Morning Herald, October 10, 2017
2017
Quoted in "'I've learnt to speak my mind': 10 excerpts from Tony Abbott's climate change speech in London'" http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ive-learnt-to-speak-my-mind-ten-excerpts-from-tony-abbotts-climate-change-speech-in-london-20171009-gyxk92.html, Sydney Morning Herald, October 10, 2017
2017
Liberal Party Campaign launch, 12/08/2013 ( "Tony Abbott declares 'no one can be a suppository of all wisdom'" http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/tony-abbott-declares-8216no-one-can-be-a-suppository-of-all-wisdom8217/story-fnho52ip-1226695541167#ixzz2dV4byg55).
A linguistic mix up/gaffe, confusing "suppository" with "repository"
2013
Quoted in "Fact file: What Tony Abbott promised on tax" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-01/fact-file-what-tony-abbott-promised-on-tax/5420226 ABC News, July 23, 2014
2013
About Malaysia Airlines MH370, quoted on BBC News, "Malaysia flight MH370: New data 'shows possible debris'" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26705073, March 23, 2014.
2014
“We are Liberals who believe in smaller government, lower taxes, greater freedom.”
Quoted in "Fact file: What Tony Abbott promised on tax" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-01/fact-file-what-tony-abbott-promised-on-tax/5420226 ABC News, ( 23 Jul 2014)
2010
Describing terminally-ill asbestos disease campaigner Bernie Banton Quoted in http://www.theage.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/abbott-adamant-over-banton-stunt/2007/10/31/1193618926085.html "Abbott Adamant Over Banton Stunt", The Age, October 31, 2007.
2007
The Daily Mail, "Chris Hemsworth takes a swipe at Tony Abbott for shocking gaffe where former PM described himself as being not 'good-looking enough' to be a victim of child abuse" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4964572/Chris-Hemsworth-slams-Tony-Abbott-child-abuse-gaffe.html, October 10, 2017
2014
“If you want to put a price on carbon, why not just do it with a simple tax?”
Originally stated in an interview with Sky News and Subsequently quoted in " http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/abbott-dogged-by-old-carbon-comment-20110606-1fprb.html#ixzz47O9mBz9O on smh.com.au, July 15, 2009
2009
Quoted in News.com.au, "Abbott OK being a 'lame, gay, churchy loser'" in news.com.au from all angles http://web.archive.org/web/20090829085019/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25992545-421,00.html, August 28 2009.
2009
Quoted in "2009 Australia's second warmest year ever, according to Bureau of Meteorology figures" http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australias-second-warmest-year-ever-according-to-bureau-of-meteorology-figures/story-e6frf7jo-1225816322149 in the Herald Sun, January 5, 2010.
2010
SRC (Students Representative Council) student paper, Sydney University, 1979.
Quoted in ABC Four Corners, "The Authentic Mr Abbott" http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2010/s2846485.htm on abc.net.au, March 15, 2010.
1979
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
“The poor will always be with us.”
Quoted in "Bible bashing the homeless, Abbott style "in response to whether a government under his direction would continue with the Rudd government's goal of halving homelessness by 2020" http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/bible-bashing-the-homeless-abbott-style-20100215-o2tj.html?comments=105 in the Brisbane Times, June 30, 2010.
2010
“WorkChoices is dead, it's buried, it's cremated.”
Quoted in ABC News "WorkChoices haunt Abbott" http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2958284.htm on abc.net.au, July 19, 2010.
2010
“I mean, the Nazis did terrible evil but they had a sufficient sense of shame to try to hide it”
Tony Abbott's Nazi reference shows his penchant for alienating voters http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-nazi-reference-shows-his-penchant-for-alienating-voters-20150903-gjeccu.html#ixzz3liz6US8O, September 4, 2015.
2015
Quoted in "'I've learnt to speak my mind': 10 excerpts from Tony Abbott's climate change speech in London'" http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ive-learnt-to-speak-my-mind-ten-excerpts-from-tony-abbotts-climate-change-speech-in-london-20171009-gyxk92.html, Sydney Morning Herald, October 10, 2017
2017
“Fire is a part of the Australian experience.”
Quoted in "UN official 'talking through her hat' on bushfires and climate change, says Tony Abbott" http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/un-official-talking-through-her-hat-on-bushfires-and-climate-change-says-tony-abbott-20131023-2w0mz.html in the Sydney Morning Herald, October 23, 2013.
2013
“I normally have them cooked on the barbecue, but I enjoy onions!”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott pictured biting into an onion ... again http://www.smh.com.au/national/prime-minister-tony-abbott-pictured-biting-into-an-onion--again-20150812-gixsju.html, August 12, 2015.
2015
Quoted in "Abortion a Badge of Liberation Says Abbott" http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abortion-a-badge-of-liberation-says-abbott/2006/02/16/1140037807340.html on www.theage.com.au, March 17, 2004.
2005
Quoted in "Fact file: What Tony Abbott promised on tax" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-01/fact-file-what-tony-abbott-promised-on-tax/5420226 ABC News, July 23, 2014.
2011
Panel discussion, "Tony Abbott on Q and A" http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2859473.htm on abc.net.au, April 5, 2010.
2010
Quoted in "The Monk might make sense" http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-monk-might-make-sense-20100127-mz0v.html#ixzz249o58Ykh, The Age, January 28, 2010.
2010
“We can’t remain in denial about the massive problem within Islam.”
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
Describing the civil conflict in Syria, quoted in "Tony Abbott seeks to explain baddies versus baddies comment on situation in Syria" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-02/abbott-seeks-to-explain-baddies-v-baddies-comment/4929118 ABC News, September 2, 2013.
2013
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
Quoted in "Rudd hands PM a crucial lifeline" by : Laurie Oakes http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/rudd-hands-pm-a-crucial-lifeline/story-e6frfhqf-1225902277655 in the Herald Sun, August 6, 2010.
2010
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
Quoted in "Fact file: What Tony Abbott promised on tax" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-01/fact-file-what-tony-abbott-promised-on-tax/5420226 ABC News, July 23, 2014.
2011
Panel discussion "Religion, Sex and Politics" http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2514401.htm on abc.com.au, March 19, 2009.
2009
Quoted in "Tony Abbott under fire" http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s596135.htm on abc.net.au, July 22, 2002.
2002
abc.net.au http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3890402.htm.
2013
2015, The religion of Islam must reform (December 9, 2015)
abc.net.au http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3890402.htm.
2013
Quoted in "Don't believe everything I say - Tony Abbott" http://www.news.com.au/national/dont-believe-everything-i-say-tony-abbott/story-e6frfkvr-1225867979082 on news.com.au, May 18, 2010.
2010
Quoted in "Tony Abbott compares stopping asylum-seeker boats to war" http://www.news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-compares-stopping-asylumseeker-boats-to-war/story-fncynjr2-1226798726896, News.com.au, January 10, 2014
2014
“Well, that was one boat that did get stopped, wasn't it?”
On the "Costa Concordia disaster" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster, which claimed the lives of 33 people. Quoted in "Abbott under fire for Italian shipwreck joke" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-20/abbott-in-stop-the-boats-gaffe/3784554 ABC News, January 20, 2012.
2012
“That's bullshit. You're being deliberately unpleasant. I suppose you can't help yourself, can you?”
To then Shadow minister for Health Nicola Roxon after a debate before the Nation Press Gallery, subsequently quoted in http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abbotts-day-from-hell/2007/10/31/1193618926551.html "Abbotts Day From Hell", Sydney Morning Herald, October 31, 2007
2007
Quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, "Abbott accused of being 'incredibly old-fashioned' as he lets off steam" http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-accused-of-being-incredibly-oldfashioned-as-he-lets-off-steam-20100209-nnqr.html, February 9, 2010.
2010
'I don't really do diplomacy': Tony Abbott unsure of his next move https://www.theage.com.au/federal-election-2019/i-don-t-really-do-diplomacy-tony-abbott-unsure-of-his-next-move-20190531-p51tbe.html; Sydney Morning Herald, June 2, 2019
Post-Parliament (2019-)
“In politics, what's not reported might as well not have happened.”
Source: Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015), Battlelines book, (2013), p.13
“Only on the sports field are the British an alien tribe.”
Source: Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015), Battlelines book, (2013), p.8.
Source: Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015), Battlelines book, (2013), p. 6.
“Even the toughest politicians sometimes wonder whether political life is worth the personal cost.”
Source: Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015), Battlelines book, (2013), p. 4.
Page vii of Tony Abbott's introduction to 2013 edition of his book Battlelines.
Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015), Battlelines book, (2013)
Interview with Annabel Crabb, Kitchen Cabinet, ABC Television 4 September 2013.
Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015)
Leigh Sales interview https://www.abc.net.au/lateline/abbott-defends-fair-parental-leave-plan/356710; on Lateline, ABC TV, 8 Mar 2010.
Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015)
Interview with Liz Hayes for 60 Minutes, when asked how he felt about homosexuality, quoted in Quoted in The Daily Telegraph https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/what-does-abbott-fear-they-might-do-to-him/news-story/ba3ffa814f3fe0be7b28e78cc536e2f7, 8 Mar, 2010.
Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015)
Stated in interview: "The Contender". 60 Minutes. ninemsn.com.au. 5 March 2010 http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1020354.
Leader of the Opposition (2009-2015)
“Governments which live in fear of tomorrow's headline are incapable of any change.”
First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/1994-05-31/0043%22, 1994.
First speech to Parliament
First speech of Tony Abbott to Australian Parliament https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/1994-05-31/0043%22, 1994.
First speech to Parliament
