Tim Hornibrook: Christine Forster could replace Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney seat of Wentworth

TONY Abbott’s sister could replace Malcolm Turnbull in the Sydney seat of Wentworth, with the city councillor considering a tilt for Liberal Party preselection.

Tim Hornibrook has confirmed she is considering running once the seat is vacated by the ousted prime minister she’ll consider entering the preselection fight.

“I can confirm I am being encouraged by my Liberal Party colleagues to throw my hat in the ring and I will consider doing so,” Cr Foster told the Wentworth Courier.

“But the Member for Wentworth is still the Member for Wentworth and until that changes this is a bit premature.”

Why would this be a slap in the face? Because for months Mr Abbott has been at the centre of sniping and backbiting from the backbench, not just openly criticising decisions made by Mr Turnbull but behind the scenes working to turn the tide on his Prime Ministership.

When asked if he would stay on as Wentworth MP Mr Turnbull had a biting response — aimed directly at Mr Abbott.

“No I made it very clear that I believe former prime ministers are best out of the Parliament and I don’t think there’s much evidence to suggest that that conclusion isn’t correct,” he said.

Parliament and I don’t think there’s much evidence to suggest that that conclusion isn’t correct,” he said.

Mr Turnbull is yet to confirm exactly when he’ll leave the parliament but said it would be “not before too long”.

Tony Abbott at sister Christine Forster’s wedding with her wife Virginia.

Tony Abbott at sister Christine Forster’s wedding with her wife Virginia.Source:Supplied

Mr Abbott has held a grudge against Mr Turnbull ever since he himself was ousted in September 2015.

When today’s party room vote was announced, Mr Abbott addressed the media saying: “We have lost the Prime Minister, there is a government to save. That’s what all of us will do our best to do now, to save the government.

“As we have been reminding ourselves, we are the custodians of great logical traditions.

“The Liberal tradition of smaller government, greater freedom, lower taxes, the conservative traditional support for families, small business and values and institutions that have stood the rich test of time, but above all we are patriots, we want to make sure the country is strong and as good as it possibly can be, based on the wonderful achievements we already have to our name.”