Tony Abbott, Australia’s prime minister, may be out of a job next week. After a series of political gaffes and setbacks he will on Tuesday face a challenge to his leadership of the Liberal Party. Two backbenchers are to ask the parliamentary party to vote on a motion to unseat him. The wheels came off Mr Abbott’s rocky 15-month tenure last month. He was much derided for his decision to award a knighthood to Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth (Australia’s head of state). Then the government did badly in state elections in Queensland; and worsening public finances forced Mr Abbott to drop a cherished policy, on paid parental leave. Potential challengers include his foreign minister, Julie Bishop, and Malcolm Turnbull, whom he toppled as party leader in 2009. Whatever happens, Mr Abbott’s pledge to replace the perpetual infighting that marked the previous Labor Party administration with “stable” government has proved empty.