Battle between Abbott and Turnbull precipitated by Bernardi's departure?

It's clearly on between Abbott and Turnbull now. Tension really heated up after Tony made it very clear what he thought the Government should do at the launch for the book Making Australia Right.

I'm sure Tony sincerely believes that he's only speaking up in the interests of his beloved Liberal Party. And his prescriptions are all good, IMO. (I particularly like the one about abolishing the Human Rights Commission. Boy, would it be great if that happened. So much money saved and misery avoided!) That said, it's pretty clear he also wants his old job back. So he's being a bit disingenuous when he says that he's not white-anting. 

In any case, Turnbull is clearly losing his patience. He's said that Abbott's attack on his leadership is "sad". (Hmm. Maybe he's emulating Donald Trump, who often ends tweets with that adjective. If so, it just doesn't have the same effect ... which is actually kinda sad in is own right.)

Now where have I heard all this before? Pity they didn't listen @murpharoo https://t.co/7P90Ee7aHI

— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) February 23, 2017

I think that this open conflict between the two was inevitable. The tension has been palpable, if undeclared, for ages. But I do think that Cory Bernardi leaving the Liberal Party to form his own has sped the whole process up.

With Bernardi's new party Australian Conservatives doing so well in the polls, Tony has realized there really is something massive happening. And he'd better start making some serious moves to stop the Coalition "drifting to a defeat". 

I'm going out on a limb here. But I reckon an Abbott challenge to Turnbull is inevitable. Just a matter of when ...

And whatever happens it's a good thing. There's now a contest again. That's definitely been missing so far under Turnbull.