Mark Kenny Chief political correspondent
April 22, 2013
'A blatant abuse of power': Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has warned Prime Minister Julia Gillard not to appoint Australia's next Governor-General before the election, fuelling suspicions within the government he wants the position for John Howard. Photo: Andrew Meares
Tony Abbott has accused Prime Minister Julia Gillard of ''a blatant abuse of power'' over the appointment of Australia's next governor-general, despite there being no evidence of an announcement being made before the election.
The escalation in rhetoric has fuelled suspicions within the government that Mr Abbott wants to keep the position vacant so he can appoint his old boss and mentor John Howard to the role.
Fairfax Media has obtained a copy of a letter from Mr Abbott to Ms Gillard written on Sunday, expressly warning against her naming a replacement for Governor-General Quentin Bryce, whose term will end in March, 2014.
Ms Bryce's five-year term has already been extended by six months to avoid any clash with the September election.
In the letter, Mr Abbott complains about the recent reappointment of the Australian Electoral Commissioner and other public service appointments, and invokes the ''caretaker'' convention to suggest the current government is going beyond its legitimate authority.
''In my view, the decision to announce these appointments subverts the established convention that no government should make decisions that are legitimately the province of a potential successor,'' he wrote in the letter dated April 21.
''The announcement of appointments expressed to take effect almost nine months into the term of the next parliament and some 15 months before they become operative is a blatant abuse of power.''
Mr Abbott argues that to attempt to recommend the appointment of a new governor-general more than six months before the term would commence is ''without modern precedent''.
''Quite properly, arrangements regarding the appointment of a new governor-general would be, and should be, a matter for a new or a returned prime minister after the September 14 election.
''Thus, I seek your specific assurance that this precedent will be respected and that arrangements for the appointment of a new governor-general will be a matter for an incoming or re-elected government.''
A senior government figure said it was believed Mr Abbott would seek to politicise the plum governor-general position by awarding it to former Coalition prime minister and avowed monarchist John Howard.
''Abbott has missed the point of due diligence,'' the figure said. ''This is not just a matter of putting out a press release; we cannot afford another Peter Hollingworth.''
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Mr Abbott initially avoided direct reference to the governor-general's post before conceding it was his view that it should be left to the next prime minister.
