TURNBULL DEPARTURE DAY ROLLING THREAD
It’s all over for Malcolm Turnbull, who will fall just slightly short of becoming “the longest-serving prime minister since Menzies. Possibly ever.” Let’s follow the fun as it unfolds.
It’s all over for Malcolm Turnbull, who will fall just slightly short of becoming “the longest-serving prime minister since Menzies. Possibly ever.” Let’s follow the fun as it unfolds.
This morning kicked off with several Turnbull abandonments:
Liberal party ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash, and Mitch Fifield have now abandoned Mr Turnbull just after 9.30am and want him to resign, also calling for another leadership spill today.
Mr Cormann said he had met with Mr Turnbull to tell him he no longer had the support of the majority of the Liberal Party.
“The reason we came to that view is because of the number of colleagues that came forward who supported Malcolm in the leadership ballot on Tuesday, who indicated to us that they had changed their position,” he said.
Sky News is now reporting that Scott Morrison will nominate against Dutton. There are conflicting opinions as to whether Turnbull will run or stand aside.
UPDATE. Nine’s Chris Uhlmann is upset over media opposition to Turnbull:
"News corporations...are waging a war against the Prime Minister of Australia" - @CUhlmann #9Today pic.twitter.com/UaQBLTv0bQ
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 22, 2018
Uhlmann has apparently forgotten the media’s role in undermining Tony Abbott.
UPDATE II. Assuming he’s booted today, Turnbull we be in appropriate company when it comes to leadership longevity:
Julia Gillard: Three years, three days
Malcolm Turnbull: Two years, 341 days
Gough Whitlam: Two years, 341 days
Kevin Rudd: Two years, 286 days
UPDATE III. Turnbull said last year he’d quit if he was removed as PM. But now:
Asked about the comment earlier this week, the Prime Minister’s Office was briefing that Mr Turnbull wouldn’t quit parliament if he lost the Prime Minister’s job.
Oh, great.
UPDATE IV. Elsewhere:
After 12 seasons and a record-breaking 279 episodes, The Big Bang Theory will air its final-ever episode in May 2019.
The show first aired when John Howard was PM and has survived through Rudd, Gillard, Rudd again, Tony Abbott, Turnbull and whoever comes next.
UPDATE V. Turnbull will hold a press conference in ten minutes, at 1pm.
UPDATE VI:
Last time we saw the Canberra press gallery joyously report a challenge they helped to orchestrate.
— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) August 23, 2018
Today they report a challenge they tried to stave off.
Notice a difference in tone as their authority and sensibilities are defied. #youknowitmakessense
UPDATE VII. This bloke is unbelievable. He's using every tactic available just to drag this out for one more day - and to poison his likely successor:
.@TurnbullMalcolm: This issue of eligibility is critically important. You can imagine the consequences of a Prime Minister whose actions and decisions are questionable because of their eligibility.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 23, 2018
FULL COVERAGE: @Foxtel channel 103 & https://t.co/UFTF06werJ #auspol #libspill pic.twitter.com/Tp5bOrUxQ7
UPDATE VIII. Optimism is an admirable quality, until it becomes delusion:
Still unconvinced he has lost the support of his colleagues, Mr Turnbull raised the possibility that if he calls a spill motion tomorrow it may not be carried.
“It may be that the spill motion is not carried and I remain Prime Minister and we can try to restore some stability,” he said.
In related news, Carlton may play in this year’s AFL finals.
UPDATE IX:
We have seen a lot in the past decade. But that press conference was hard to top. So much to unpack. Delays. Tricks. Demands. Threats. Bombs. Blame.
— Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) August 23, 2018