Shock state election rout piles pressure on Australian PM Tony Abbott
Prime minister under fire after 'catastrophic' coalition defeat in Queensland polls and public outcry over the knighting of Prince Philip
Australia's conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott has come under renewed leadership pressure, a little more than a year into office after a voter backlash in a state poll and his unpopular move to knight Britain's Prince Philip.
Rumours of challenges to Abbott's position as prime minister have emerged over the past week after the knighthood decision. But the demise of the Liberal-National coalition (LNP) in Queensland elections held on Saturday piled further pressure on him.
The LNP, which is also the ruling coalition nationally, swept to victory in Queensland three years ago to record the state's biggest ever parliamentary triumph when it took 78 of 89 seats.
Members of the government called the result "catastrophic", sparking further speculation of a possible party revolt.
Abbott said he was determined to stay on as leader, but conceded the state election had delivered a jolt.
"I accept we've had some difficulties," Abbott said. "I accept we need to learn from the difficulties we've had, but ... government is not a popularity contest, it is a competence contest."
In an embarrassing result for the Queensland LNP, closely aligned to Abbott's Liberal-National coalition, the party surrendered the largest political majority in Australia's history after just one term in office.