Alongside the Super Bowl on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's National Press Club speech began trending on Twitter. The address had been flagged as a last ditch attempt for the country's leader to salvage his position.
Things have gotten a little more complex #AbbottNPC #SuperBowlXLIX pic.twitter.com/ADqAEKPo9e— Charles Croucher (@ccroucher9) February 2, 2015
The crucial speech followed eight-days of hardcore rumours centred around Abbott's ability to lead Australia. The leadership rumblings started after he offered a knighthood to the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, on Jan. 26. During the Press Club speech, he admitted it had been a "difficult patch" and "a rough couple of months" for his government.
As leadership speculation reached a fever pitch, Abbott used the moment to highlight the government's previous achievements, such as "stopping the boats" and axing the controversial tax on carbon. In the same breath, he got rid of the paid parental leave scheme and apologised for "captain's picks" on knighthoods, agreeing he "overdid" the awards.
Following the speech in Canberra, Abbott took intense questions from the media such as: "Are you the best person to lead the country?" and "Have you considered resigning?" He dismissed both questions and continued to spout policies.
Twitter lit up in reaction to the speech, which many detractors didn't see as helping his current cause.
Abbott's problem is he thinks he made a whoopsie over Prince Philip but that everything else is fine & dandy. #npc— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) February 2, 2015
"We're going on a journey" #AbbottNPC pic.twitter.com/ZViBXcsVIP— Rhys Muldoon (@rhysam) February 2, 2015
meanwhile at @AustralianLabor HQ #auspol #AbbottNPC pic.twitter.com/MeMLJ2I6lZ— Vanamali (@VChristabel) February 2, 2015
O Captain my Captain! #npc #abbottnpc pic.twitter.com/05rqHtA9GY— Jordi (@jordilm) February 2, 2015
Tones speech at the Press Club #AbbottNPC #npc #auspol #libspill pic.twitter.com/YIRxUzbZGx— Pete Steinfort (@steiny71) February 2, 2015
While many others were simply enjoying a drinking game.
Debt and deficit…DRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRINK! #AbbottNPC #NPC #OneTermTony #LIBSPILL #auspol— Frightbat Banshee (@LibtardBanshee) February 2, 2015
Stop the boats…DRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRINK! #AbbottNPC #NPC #OneTermTony #auspol— Frightbat Banshee (@LibtardBanshee) February 2, 2015
Abbott: “As a former journalist myself…” DRINK! #AbbottNPC pic.twitter.com/lmaA0QNJa9— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) February 2, 2015
Or bingo (cheekily distributed by the Opposition leader's office).
Tony Abbott bingo, cheekily distributed by Bill Shorten's office ahead of NPC speech pic.twitter.com/mK7fss57Iu— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) February 2, 2015