By-Election Losses Forces Turnbull To Reexamine Policies

Speaking to the media on Sunday after Coalition’s by-election losses, Malcolm Turnbull announced that he will “humbly” reexamine the government’s current policies. Despite relentless campaign efforts, Coalition failed to clinch from Labor the Queensland seat of Longman and Tasmanian seat of Braddon.
“We will look very seriously and thoughtfully and humbly at the way in which voters have responded,” the prime minister told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
“We will be carefully considering the analysis of the by-elections, particularly in Braddon and in Longman. But I can assure you we will remain committed to the strong national economic plan that is delivering record jobs growth, strong investment.””
Labor hit the coalition where it hurts most and aimed at the government’s tax cuts plans which did not sit well with the people.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said “Mr. Turnbull made it about leadership. The reality is he needs to drop the tax cuts on the way out of office, he needs to drop them, leave the keys to the Lodge and go.”
Shorten added “He has made his whole case to be Prime Minister on the basis of reducing corporate tax rates for big business. It’s a bad idea. But if he can’t even sell his own economic ideas he should hand over someone who can sell economic ideas that actually believe him.”
Due to the by-elections upset, Malcom Turnbull is under pressure to forego tax cuts. However, the Prime Minister seems unfazed by warnings to dump the policy or lose in the election.
“It is vitally important that Australian companies are competitive. If you look around the country, if you believe that having record jobs growth is important — I do and I think most Australians do — you can see that’s coming because businesses are investing and they’re hiring,” Mr. Turnbull stated.
Defense Industry Minister Christopher Pyne rallied behind the Prime Minister and refuted the claims of opposition.
Pyne said “He didn’t make it a test of his leadership, and quite frankly, what’s happened in these by-elections is … the government got a swing in Braddon and the average swing in Longman against it. So no one should be punching the air in the Labor party about keeping the 100-year tradition going that governments don’t win by-elections.”